When the new SailGP season begins in Perth next month, Andy Maloney will return in a new set of colours.
The Kiwi flight controller will continue in the league with newcomers Artemis Sweden, moving on after a season with the Brazilian team.
The move sees Maloney suit upfor his third team in as many campaigns, joining Brazil for season five after three campaigns with New Zealand’s Black Foils.
“I’m really looking forward to trying to get back to the top with Artemis,” Maloney told SailGP.
“Artemis is a very experienced professional sailing team, but they’re new to SailGP. It’s always been a team that, from the outside, I’ve really admired how they go about their business.
“The first time I saw Artemis competing was in Bermuda at the America’s Cup. They had a really cool feel about the team, from the outside anyway. I remember the dock-off songs of the Artemis team getting stuck in my head when I was out racing for the Kiwi boat.”
Flight controller Andy Maloney (right) has joined Sweden for SailGP season six after one campaign with Brazil. Photo / Ricardo Pinto, SailGP.
But while he’s in new colours, he will be back among familiar faces.
Maloney’s addition completes the Artemis line-up, which is one that could quickly see the team become the second favourite for Kiwi SailGP fans.
Maloney links up with Team New Zealand America’s Cup teammates Nathan Outteridge and Chris Draper, driver and wing trimmer respectively, with Artemis, as well as Sweden-based Kiwi grinder and jib trimmer Brad Farrand. While Outteridge was a free agent, Draper moved to Artemis from Australia, while Farrand competed with Italy this year.
The team is rounded out by Swedish duo Julia Gross (strategist) and Julius Hallström(grinder), who join the team from Italy and Denmark, respectively.
“I’m really excited to join this team. [They’re] really professional, and to join some sailors that I also have a lot of experience sailing with,” Maloney said.
The Swedish crew look well poised to hit the ground running when season six begins in Perth as they are a rare case of a new team but everyone on board having at least a season of experience sailing the F50 foiling catamarans.
Speaking to the Herald after signing, Farrand said having to make up for a lack of experience was a steep learning curve in his season with Italy, who were new to the league in season five.
“We learned that it’s pretty tough to teach everybody how to sail the F50, but if you’ve got the experience already, hopefully [we’ll] be a force to be reckoned with straight off the bat.”
