12:00PM // AUG 15, 2025

The Buckley Pre-Brief: The Goal Never Changes

CEO, Co-Owner and strategist Mike Buckley previews the Germany Sail Grand Prix

U.S. SailGP Team CEO, Co-Owner, and strategist Mike Buckley says the team’s focus remains on progress and believes a full week of training in Germany can only benefit the team.

Speaking from Sassnitz for The Buckley Pre-Brief - which you can watch in full, above - Mike addressed the topic of targets for the rest of Season Five.

“If you progress every day, you’ll eventually get to where you want to be in the results,” Mike explained. “If you just chase the results, you’ll be disappointed every day.

“Sometimes what’s really hard for us is that the events are really short, and without much lead-up practice, we sometimes get to racing on Saturday and it takes us all day to get back to where we were on Sunday at the previous event.

“That’s something we’re really focused on - starting earlier in the week where we left off on Sunday, and not taking a step backward before we take a step forward.”

One big bonus is a full week on the water together in the port town of Sassnitz, Rügen. Light winds prematurely ended practice in Portsmouth, but the U.S. SailGP Team has been together all week in Northern Germany, with four training days and official practice racing on Friday.

Mike said: “A lot of the teams in the back half of the grid have been awarded some extra training days, so for us, we’re trying to take advantage of every minute we can out there because we know this will be the last block of training this season.

“We’re just after that fraction of an inch in progress, and if we can make a little of that every day, it’ll make racing Saturday and Sunday a lot easier.”

Another benefit is the involvement of Andrew Campbell. Re-signed to the team ahead of the Emirates Great Britain Sail Grand Prix, the vastly experienced America’s Cup campaigner will hope for more time on the F50 this weekend.

“Andrew is a great sailor and a great presence on our team, on and off the water,” said Mike. “He’s someone all of us have known for 20 years, starting in high school sailing, then college, and beyond.

“He’s a winner, he’s a competitor, and we’re excited to see how he can help our team improve.”