SailGP 101: How Do Teams Make A Maneuver On The F50?
Ever wondered what goes into making a maneuver on board the F50? We asked the question…
Published 11/5/2025
An F50 in motion looks effortless — like a swan gliding across the water.
But beneath the surface, it’s nonstop coordination, communication, and control when it comes to tacking or jibing the 50-foot racing machine.
So, what happens when a SailGP team has to make a maneuver? We’ve got the answer…
1. Fit the maneuver into the playbook
A good maneuver starts with strong communication. Athletes are in constant discussion about strategy and tactics, taking into account the positions and strategy of the other boats in the fleet.
A good example is coming around Mark One where most of the time, teams will jibe at the boundary. The on-board discussion usually dictates that if the boat ahead drops a specific board, the team behind will mimic that.
It is the job of the strategist and driver to communicate all of this to the rest of the team so everyone is prepared for the next move. A ‘Stand by’ call from the driver is the cue for the maneuver to start. It’s also the last chance for anyone on board to pump the brakes if something has changed that could impact the success of the move.
Assuming nothing has, the strategist will already have begun to cross the netting, leaving their cockpit to switch to the opposite side.
SAILGP 101: WHAT DO THE CREW CARRY?
2. Have a good entry
At this point, the countdown begins — once again led by the team’s driver.Each number in the sequence triggers something relevant to either the entire crew or specific athletes. Consistency in the countdown is vital to keeping a stable platform and successful maneuver
Next to begin to cross is the wing trimmer, handing the wing sheet off to the driver as they make their way across the boat. It’s usually an unspoken cue that gives the wing trimmer the signal to begin their switch.
The grinders are grinding the wing the whole time to help lift the hulls and get a clean drop on the new board.
The whole sequence revolves around that key moment when the board hits lock. When that happens, the driver calls “turning.” At that point, they know the boat is on all four foils, and everyone needs to be in position to avoid being flung off the F50 by the considerable G-forces.
3. Maintain a stable platform during the turn
Naturally, every team has a slightly different playbook. Lots of teams keep everyone on the original side as long as possible to prioritize stability going into the maneuver. It is the responsibility of the flight controller to keep a stable platform throughout this period – any fluctuations can prove costly and, in the worst case, potentially see the boat fall off the foils.
After the “turning” call or just before, when the board goes unlocked, the G1 grinders get out and cross. They’re in the middle of the net during the turn and the first to the new rail.
During the turn, the G2 grinder and jib trimmer is generally doing the invert — flipping the wing from one camber to the other. Inverting is when the wing goes from one shape to the other during the maneuver — flipping its camber.
It’s crucial to execute at precisely the right moment, when the boat is headed into the wind. Get it right, and the maneuver stays smooth and efficient.
4. Execute a successful exit
The driver is next to cross with the strategist or wing trimmer on the new side, taking the wheel in their absence. Last to go is the flight controller who must maintain a steady flight with the board beneath them while the driver moves.
When the driver is in their cockpit, they’ll call “My rake.” That’s the flight controller’s cue to hand over flight control and cross. Once everyone has crossed, the driver can focus on steering again.
After exiting a maneuver, the boat will be slow because of drag and heading through the wind, so the G2 grinder trims the jib for that slowest point. Then, by the time they’re on the new rail, the F50 is accelerating again.
5. Get back to full speed
As with everything in SailGP, speed is crucial and key to that is minimizing the amount of time with four foils in the water is key — they create about 70% of the drag. Lifting one reduces around 25–30% of that drag, which makes a massive difference.
In SailGP, there are around 20 maneuvers per race. Considering a race only lasts an average of 13 minutes, that’s a huge percentage of time spent maneuvering. Getting those right is critical to success.
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