Chasing The Wind
Daniel Escudero, United States
Goal Click are teaming up with SailGP to capture the spirit of the league through the eyes of its fans to showcase the emotion, energy, and personal journeys that surround SailGP events.
This series tells the stories of fans across North America and Europe as they experience the Mubadala New York Sail Grand Prix and the Emirates Great Britain Sail Grand Prix | Portsmouth.
With dreams of one day competing in SailGP, Daniel Escudero blends a passion for high-performance sailing with a deep interest in cutting-edge racing technology.
My name is Daniel Escudero, and I am 23 years old. I was born in Bonn, Germany, and am currently based in New York, where I study naval architecture and marine engineering at Webb Institute.
I began sailing at age 14 in Ontario and quickly became passionate about the ILCA class of sailing (Olympic single-handed dinghy) after my parents signed me up for a summer camp.
I have dedicated most of my free time to the sport, even taking a year off to pursue Olympic qualification for Paris 2024, where I finished fifth in the domestic trials. I am currently the college sailing Singlehanded National Champion and 2024 ILCA7 North American Champion. After graduation, I will train and compete to, hopefully, represent the USA at the LA 2028 Olympic Games.
The Pinnacle Of Sailing
Sailing is a complex sport. Wind, waves, currents, courses, and other boats create endless variables, making the fastest route hard to predict. Add in the challenge of controlling a twitchy F50 at 40 knots, and it is clear just how unique and demanding SailGP is.
I have followed SailGP from the start, and was especially excited when strategist Erika Reineke joined the United States team as she was previously my sailing coach!
What drew me in was the technology and unpredictability of the league. The F50s represent one of the pinnacles of sailing technology as they are constantly evolving. With identical one-design boats and shared racing data, it all comes down to the athletes. This makes the racing incredibly close.
Being German, Spanish, and American, choosing a team is not easy, but with friends on the USA team, that is where my support lands.
Catching The Action
I attended the Mubadala New York Sail Grand Prix for the first time this season with my close friend, Burke.
The racecourse at Governors Island was tricky, with strong currents and unpredictable winds making it a real test for the athletes. This made for thrilling racing as teams were forced to adapt to the challenging conditions and the tight racecourse fast.
The F50s flying past us at over 40 knots was an impressive sight, and no two races were the same. Aside from the racing, the event featured a vibrant Race Stadium with SailGP merch and plenty of food and drink options.
Another bonus was the surprise appearance of DJ Khaled just before Saturday’s racing. He sailed past on the Canadian F50 and then hyped up the crowd from the spectator area. Despite poor weather, the energy was electric and amplified by great commentary, which kept the fans engaged.
On Sunday, the sun came out and the venue was packed with fans eager to watch the action - and it did not disappoint. Spain took the win, beating New Zealand and France in a closely fought Final.
