Hans Henken Cádiz Preview
Flight controller Hans Henken talks Cádiz, three-up configurations and more ahead of the weekend…
Published 10/1/2025
Cádiz is known to serve up varied conditions – and U.S. SailGP Team flight controller Hans Henken is prepared for whatever the DP World Spain Sail Grand Prix throws at him this weekend.
Part of two U.S. SailGP Team Crews to reach the Final in Spain, in Seasons 2 and 3 of SailGP, Hans would have been on the podium with Taylor Canfield, Mac Agnese and Peter Kinney in 2023, too, had it not been for injury ruling him out of that event.
He recalls: “The first time, I believe we finished second. I was in the second event as well - we finished second again. That event was incredibly wavy and challenging, and we sailed the boat really well.
"We were actually winning the final race coming up to the last turning mark, and it came down to a split decision on wind direction. We ended up second, but it would have been huge to back up our win in Saint-Tropez with another.
“I wasn’t in the third event, but Jimmy (Spithill), Mac, PK (Peter Kinney), Taylor, Erika Reineke, and Paul Campbell-James sailed with a limited crew and managed to win, even without much foiling.
“So the U.S. team has had a lot of success in Cádiz. Some of us individually - like Mac, Andrew Campbell, and myself - have podiumed there. But this current team as a whole hasn’t been together at this venue yet. That said, a few of us know what it takes, and we’re capable of pulling off a strong result here.”
The U.S. SailGP Team wins the Spain Sail Grand Prix in Season 4
It was a four-up configuration that got the U.S. SailGP Team over the line in Season 4 and, at the most recent event in Geneva, Hans was part of the three-person team that claimed three P4s in light air conditions.
A lack of wind meant he joined driver Taylor and wing trimmer Michael Menninger on the F50 – which meant a reprisal of his time as a grinder in previous seasons.
“My role was expanded a bit in Geneva in the three-up configuration,” explained Hans, who had served as G2 in Season 1 and part of Season 2.
“But working within the team when there are only three people on board and six jobs to do was new. That was fun for me to learn, and I took a lot away personally from being able to jump into that, learn more about the boat, and adapt to the role.
READ ANDREW’S CÁDIZ PREVIEW HERE
“Whenever you do something for the first time, it seems like there’s too much to do and not enough time. Eventually, you understand what the rules need to be and what the priority - the order of operations - should be in every maneuver. Then it becomes pattern recognition. Once that’s understood, you go back to racing the boat.
“During most of the practice leading into Geneva, a lot of it was ‘head in the boat,’ understanding what our roles needed to be. By Sunday, it felt much more autonomous and easier to apply everything to racing.”
Teams take different approaches to a three-up configuration, with the big decision being between carrying a grinder or the flight controller. In Hans, the U.S. SailGP Team has someone with a well-rounded skill set to take on both jobs.
Hans Henken has been with the U.S. SailGP Team since Season 1 of Sail GP
“When you go into the three-up configuration, that third person could really be anyone on the boat,” Hans explains. “Because there may or may not be a lot of flight control, it gives every team the flexibility to choose. The third person ends up doing the bulk of the work; picking up different positions, crossing between cockpits.
“As that third person, you have to trim the jib, be physical and grind the wing when it needs it, and have the mindset and clarity to fly the boat at any given instant. You need a global viewpoint for pressure calls and tactical decisions, but also the ability to lock in internally when flying. So you’re jumping from brute-force grinding to cooling your heart rate down and flying the boat smoothly.
“My mindset was refreshing my jib trimming and working on fluidly moving between the forward cockpit and flight controller cockpit, anticipating the boat’s needs at any point.”
Hans and co. will now turn their attention to Cádiz with the hope of getting a full crew of six back on board for the first time since a truncated weekend in Saint-Tropez. Follow all the action with our live blog and on our social channels.
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