Taylor: We Want To Take This Momentum Into 2026
Driver Taylor Canfield writes directly to U.S. SailGP Team fans after the Abu Dhabi Sail Grand Prix
Published 12/16/2025
Reflecting on the Abu Dhabi Sail Grand Prix a couple of weeks ago, it was obviously a great event. We're happy to finish strong and, truthfully, sailed even better than where we probably ended up in the scores, given the software glitch that we had with the board up and downs.
Knowing that we've raised the bar once again is very promising. So we’re happy to finish the season strong and know that we're coming into the 2026 season with some positive momentum.
We took this as a standalone event and tried to build and figure out how we could be better while showing ourselves and supporters and fans that we do have a lot of good things in the works, and we've made some great progress.
As a team, we’ve seen a huge difference in the back half of the season – really since Sassnitz.
We've made a lot of personnel changes throughout the year to our sailing team and then also our coaching staff. Those guys have settled in, if you will, and that’s a reassuring feeling to know that we're going to lock in with this team and we can build from here.
That means we’re in a nice stable place with great people, great teammates and a great environment. That makes all of us excited to keep pushing and growing as a group. Everyone is on board with that and no one is afraid to put their hand up when something goes wrong on their end.
With that in place, it’s about being willing to keep growing and taking on that input from your teammates. That’s not always the easiest thing to do, but everyone is on board with that.
Personally, I’ve been in the position of having a new strategist behind me in Andrew Campbell and a new wing trimmer in front of me in Michael Menninger. Those are critical relationships which take time.
They’re both incredible sailors and they’re bringing a ton of knowledge from all different facets of the sailing world, be it the America’s Cup, Olympics or beyond.
Michael and I have been competitors since we were maybe 14 years old. So we go way back, and it’s nice to finally compete on the same team rather than against each other!
They’ve both already added a ton of value to the team and, while Andrew hasn’t had his fair share of time on the water due to the conditions, he’s going to be an integral part of our growth, our mindset, and taking on a pretty heavily evolved coaching role from the chase boat.
He’s been that extra set of eyes for what’s happening around the racetrack – and it’s been huge. He’s got a great demeanor and he keeps everyone super level-headed and just keeps kind of looking forward.
Outside of SailGP, it’s been a crazy year. I have two other great programs that I sail with, and we’ve been campaigning to always compete at the World Championship level and give ourselves a shot to win a world title.
First, we won the J/70 World Championship with Dark Energy, before winning the M32 World Championship with Ryan McKillen’s Surge a week before Abu Dhabi.
Going into these events, you never know if you're going to win. We felt prepared and ready for both of them, but you’ve got to go out there, show up and compete in that moment.
I had two great teams of people around me – teams that were willing to put in a massive effort to try to win these titles. I’m just grateful for both teams and the opportunity to have a shot at winning.
It’s been a strong end to 2025 for me and the U.S. SailGP Team – something we’re all really keen to carry into the New Year. Enjoy the holidays, and we look forward to getting down to Perth to start all over again.
Taylor
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