Lindsey Vonn sailed down the Hudson River aboard a foiling catamaran on Friday, enjoying one of the perks of joining the U.S. SailGP team’s board of directors.
The retired skiing champion was out on the road as Team USA’s “sixth sailor” off the coast of Manhattan before all 10 teams competed in a practice race ahead of this weekend’s Mubadala New York Sail Grand Prix, the penultimate regatta of Season 4 of tech billionaire Larry Ellison’s global league.
While there will certainly be board work for Vonn (she’s considering helping with brand strategy and partnerships), being on the water is where she belongs.
“For me, part of the excitement of joining the board is being involved with another adrenaline sport,” Vonn said in a phone interview with The Associated Press.
The wind wasn’t strong enough to activate the foils much, making the F50 catamaran one of the fastest boats in the world.
The wind did indeed pick up soon after Vonn got off the boat.
“Just bad luck,” she joked. “It wasn’t how I wanted it to be. As a retired athlete and someone who’s lost some speed, I really wanted to run faster. But it was exciting to actually be doing something, or at least feeling like I was doing something. … Downhill is a little faster. But I’m retired, so I’m going to do whatever I can.”
She was excited to work alongside grinder Anna Weiss, turning the winch that helps the wing trimmers do their job.
“It was fun,” Vonn says. “I worked hard with Anna and followed their lead. I felt out of place in a way, but it was really fun. It’s a lot of hard work, but I think what Anna does as a woman is really incredible. I don’t think a lot of people know how difficult a role like that is, so I have a lot of respect for her and the team. It’s amazing to have such a mixed-gender team.”
As part of the Women’s Development Program, SailGP teams must have a woman on board. Weiss, who competed in the foiling Nacra 17 catamaran class at the Tokyo Olympics, is the most raced woman in SailGP as a grinder and also trims the jib. Her job requires strength, cardiovascular endurance and finesse.
“She’s an incredibly strong, really amazing young woman,” Vonn said. “She’s a great example for the next generation.”
With women’s sport at a turning point, Vonn cited Billie Jean King’s decades of championing equality for women in sport and today’s female athletes, including those at SailGP, “showing people what’s possible. And it’s a combination of the past paving the way for the present and the present really seizing the opportunity and making the most of it.”
Vonn was wearing full protective gear, including a helmet. Team USA had a dramatic capsize during a practice race in Bermuda in early May after a crew error. No one was seriously injured, but the boat was damaged and the team was unable to compete in the regatta.
“We capsized a few weeks ago, so this time we wanted to make sure we followed all the safety procedures properly,” said Vonn, who previously sailed with America’s Cup crews off Manhattan in 2016 ahead of the exhibition regatta.
“I saw the video. It was pretty crazy,” she said. “Honestly, I think that stuff is really exciting. Of course, again, it was very expensive, but that’s what makes it exciting. That’s what makes the sport really interesting.”
Vonn retired from skiing in 2019 after winning three Olympic medals, including one gold, and four overall World Cup titles. She was the first woman to win 82 World Cup races.
Team USA was acquired in November by a group of investors from the sports, technology and entertainment industries, including former Alabama linebacker Dallas Turner, who was drafted 17th overall by the Minnesota Vikings, actress and producer Issa Rae, Uber founding engineer Ryan McKillen and professional sailor Mike Buckley.
On Friday, Team USA announced a multi-year partnership with Tommy Hilfiger that will begin in 2025 and will include branding of the boats and crew uniforms.
The United States has failed to qualify for the season championship race, with a $2 million first prize, in San Francisco on July 14. New Zealand leads the 10-boat field with 11 points ahead of Spain, while three-time defending champions Australia are a further point behind in third place.
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Bernie Wilson has covered sailing for The Associated Press since 1991.
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AP Sports: https://apnews.com/hub/sports
