Charted Course: Cádiz Events Through The Years
We take a trip down memory lane ahead of next weekend’s DP World Spain Sail Grand Prix in Cádiz
Published 09/27/2025
The European leg of SailGP Season 5 concludes in Cádiz next weekend (October 4-5), a venue that holds happy memories for the U.S. SailGP Team.
In three events on the Andalucían coast, the U.S. SailGP Team has made all three Finals, winning the Season 4 event with Taylor Canfield, Peter Kinney and Hans Henken all part of the crew.
Ahead of the latest instalment of the DP World Spain Sail Grand Prix, we reflect on previous editions in Cádiz…
Season 2
The Great Britain F50 capsizes in Season 2 at the Spain Sail Grand Prix
SailGP headed to Spain for the first time in Season 2 as the calendar expanded from five events to eight. There was also an expansion of the crew, with teams racing six up for the first time ever.
The first two fleet races were won by Emirates GBR and hosts Los Gallos, before the U.S. SailGP Team took 1st in Race 3. Third and 5th-placed finishes on Day 2 were enough to qualify for the final along with Great Britain and Australia – but not before some drama.
Hosts Spain suffered an unfortunate capsize, causing significant damage to their wing and ending their chances of reaching the Final. But we weren’t done there.
Britain, with Olympic legend Ben Ainslie driving, dramatically capsized at the startline, in doing so cutting off the U.S. SailGP Team. Australia and Tom Slingsby reacted brilliantly to avoid a collision and, in doing so, eased home to take the win.
Season 3
Two weeks after recording the U.S. SailGP Team's first ever event win in Saint Tropez, the team rolled into Cadiz with high hopes for the Spain Sail Grand Prix - and a new face on board, Erika Reineke.
The U.S. SailGP Team went 3-5-4-6-4 to qualify for Sunday’s final, along with Australia and France. Back-to-back wins on Day 2 weren’t enough for NorthStar Canada, though, who missed out.
The U.S. SailGP Team at the Spain Sail Grand Prix in SailGP Season 3
Tight margins remained in the Final, where just three seconds separated winners France from the U.S. SailGP Team - the tightest finish in SailGP history up to that point.
Speaking after, driver Jimmy Spithill said: “It was the closest finish in SailGP history, and an awesome final race for the fans, with the lead changing back and forward during what turned into a match race between the French and us… but unfortunately we just fell short of a back-to-back win.
“Momentum is everything in sport and I think we will see a lot more from them in the second half of the season.”
Season 4
Having come agonizingly close a year prior, the U.S. SailGP Team got over the line in Season 4 to claim victory on the Atlantic Ocean - doing so despite the absence of Hans Henken, who was injured during the Italy Sail Grand Prix a month earlier.
Driver Spithill paid tribute to his injured teammate, saying: "It was such a massive blow for the team in Italy, and a tough moment for us all to go through. But it also inspired us and gave us a real amount of purpose for this event. We dedicate this win to Hans."
Filling in was Taylor Canfield - now driver and previously flight controller in Season 1 of SailGP. Light air meant teams sailed four up in the Final, with current team members Peter Kinney and Mac Agnese part of the winning crew.
Taylor Canfield, Mac Agnese, Peter Kinney and Erika Reineke celebrate the U.S. SailGP Team's victory at the DP World Spain Sail Grand Prix in Season 4
Touching on Taylor’s contribution, Spithill said: “I also want to credit Taylor. He jumped in the deep end this weekend as our flight controller, and came in with such a great attitude and hungry for knowledge. I'm really impressed with him."
The U.S. SailGP Team was on the back foot in the Final after being handed a boundary penalty in the pre-start - something Spithill took responsibility for - but in a twist of fate, the wind dropped as finalists Australia and ROCKWOOL Denmark approached Mark 1.
The U.S. SailGP Team took full advantage and finished an impressive 2:30 ahead of ROCKWOOL to claim the win and move up to third on the Rolex SailGP Championship leaderboard.
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