Menninger: I’ve Wanted To Join SailGP Since The Start

Published 06/19/2025

Joining SailGP has been a long time coming for the newest member of the U.S. SailGP Team – and not just because the ENEL Rio Grand Prix was canceled in May!

Michael Menninger officially joined the U.S. SailGP Team on April 2 but making the move to SailGP is something he had wanted to do for a long time.

Speaking after his first official week with the team at the Mubadala New York Sail Grand Prix, Menninger said: “In early 2025, I started having conversations with Mike (Buckley) and Evan (Aras) about possibly joining the U.S. SailGP team.

“SailGP has been something I’ve wanted to be part of since its inception, and the timing worked out really well. I didn’t have major commitments at the time because the next America’s Cup cycle hadn’t been finalized. I felt I could add value to the team, and I officially joined a couple of months ago.”

He added: “This was the first real opportunity I’ve had to join a SailGP team. I was eager to come on board. The team is clearly on an upward trajectory, and I’m excited to be a part of it and see where it goes.”

U.S. SailGP Team Head Coach Evan Aras and Michael Menninger

So it was an easy decision when he received the offer to join the U.S. SailGP Team?

“Pretty much,” says Michael. “We were interested in working together, which made the conversation straightforward. For me, the biggest thing was making sure the team was serious about improving – bringing in the right people and striving to win.

“It’s a tough sport, and SailGP is very much a team game. Having strong team chemistry is critical, and I hope I can contribute to that. Once we’re on the boat, being totally synced and choreographed is everything.”

For Menninger – who raced in the 37th edition of the America’s Cup in 2024 as the starboard trimmer – there have been plenty of familiar faces to welcome him to the U.S. SailGP Team. In fact, it’s only Anna Weis and Hans Henken he hasn’t sailed with before!

“I’ve known and sailed against Taylor (Canfield) for most of my life – through junior sailing, college, and then professionally after university,” Michael explained. “I actually joined Taylor and Mike when they were first starting the Stars + Stripes team a while back.

“PK (Peter Kinney) was actually my next-door neighbor growing up – we’ve known each other since we were toddlers. I’ve sailed with Taylor and Mike quite a bit, mostly in match racing.

“I knew Jeremy (Wilmot) from college – he went to St. Mary’s College of Maryland, where I went, too. I’ve sailed a bit with Mac (Agnese), and while I haven’t sailed with Hans yet, we’re both from Southern California and I’ve known of him for a long time.”

Given a watching brief for the Mubadala New York Grand Prix in order to fully acclimatize to his new crew-mates and SailGP, Menninger hopes to step onto the F50 sooner rather than later.

But it was a worthwhile experience for the World Champion and America's Cup sailor, who spent the race weekend alongside Head Coach Evan Aras in the coach’s booth on Governors Island.

“I saw myself as both an observer and a coach,” Michael said. “I spent the week on the coach boat, watching the team sail, listening to race comms, sitting in on debriefs – just trying to absorb as much as possible.

“On race days, I was in the coaching booth with Evan. That was really interesting. The setup is unique, and being able to hear everything in real time gave great insight into how the team operates.”

He added: “These boats are brutal. The racing is fast and unforgiving. The best teams race fearlessly and push the boats to the limit. I hope I can help instill that mindset – racing hard, staying focused, and working together as a tight unit.

“The goal is to break things down into small, achievable steps and build a strong foundation. Treat each other well, keep improving, and just go out there and sail the boat hard.”

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