SAN DIEGO — Spanish sailors Diego Botin and Florian Trittel experienced an extraordinary surge of excitement last summer that was unprecedented in the world of sailing.
On July 14, in the waters of San Francisco Bay, they played a pivotal role in guiding their foiling catamaran, Los Gallos, to a remarkable victory against sailing giants Tom Slingsby from Australia and Peter Burling from New Zealand, securing the hefty $2 million winner-takes-all prize as champions of SailGP’s fourth season.
A mere 19 days later, their accomplishments continued to shine as the duo claimed the Olympic gold medal in the competitive 49er class during the event held in Marseille, France, followed by a memorable meeting with King Felipe VI of Spain, who is himself an Olympic sailor.
After such an exhilarating journey, they both needed a moment to relax and regroup.
“I can’t deny it. Right after the games I felt overwhelmed,” Botin admitted, who serves as the skipper for the SailGP team, while Trittel focuses on trimming the wingsail.
Following a brief hiatus, Los Gallos are gearing up to defend their title in the global competition initiated by Larry Ellison. The fifth season of SailGP is set to kick off with the Emirates Dubai Sail Grand Prix over the weekend.
“Now I’m beginning to feel those butterflies in my stomach and I’m eagerly anticipating the start of the new season,” Botin remarked recently in a video interview.
In January, SailGP witnessed some significant shifts as renowned skippers Ben Ainslie and Jimmy Spithill stepped down from their leadership roles to channel their efforts on different projects, including Ainslie’s commitment to the British team for the upcoming America’s Cup and Spithill’s establishment of his own Italian-based SailGP team.
Tom Slingsby, a three-time defending champion from Australia who is now a seasoned figure in the league, emphasized that it was time for younger sailors to rise and “try to knock us older guys off the pedestal.”
Botin noted, “This probably motivated us even more to channel our energies effectively to reach our goals.”
The timeline for Botin and Trittel’s Olympic endeavor also overlapped with their SailGP commitments.
In early July, reflecting on their monumental tasks, Botin shared, “We looked at one another and said, ‘The two biggest objectives of our lives are going to be decided in the next three weeks.’”
He acknowledged the significant challenge of managing both projects simultaneously but expressed confidence in their dual pursuits contributing to their development as top-tier sailors.
“Admittedly, we were uncertain about the outcome. However, the results have been incredibly rewarding, and achieving both goals ranks as a highlight of our lives.”
With their victory over the Australians, Los Gallos enter the upcoming season with proven credentials. This season will feature a fleet bolstered to 12 boats, along with a comprehensive 14-regatta schedule that will conclude with another shot at the $2 million prize.
Spithill launched his Italian team and made headlines by signing Australian wing trimmer Kyle Langford. In a groundbreaking transfer fee agreement, Olympic gold medalist Giles Scott transitioned from Britain to Canada. Additionally, two-time Olympic gold winner Martine Grael from Brazil will become the first woman to take the helm of a SailGP boat.
Burling is fresh off the success of his Emirates Team New Zealand’s third consecutive America’s Cup win, while Slingsby remains fiercely determined to succeed.
“I believe we possess the capability to challenge those teams,” Botin affirmed. “We have the potential to consistently compete at the top levels of the league. It’s crucial for us to remember the effort it required for us to become competitive in this league and to maintain that status. We need to adopt a smart approach in our efforts, and I truly believe we have the team to excel.”
The Spanish team’s distinctive 50-foot foiling catamaran features a striking red outline of a rooster on its wingsail.
Botin revealed that the nickname “Los Gallos” originated with the Spanish team during the 2017 Youth America’s Cup.
“In northern Spain, it’s common to use ‘gallo’ instead of ‘buddy’ or ‘mate.’ We often referred to each other as ‘gallo,’ which eventually led to our team being recognized as Los Gallos, prompting us to embrace this identity.”
Earlier this month, Botin and Trittel were honored as the male Rolex World Sailors of the Year.
Spithill commented, “If they’re indicative of the future stars in our sport, we’re certainly in good hands. They are not only incredible athletes but also genuinely great individuals.”