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Nagel keen to build on SailGP experience

Incredible experience: Emily Nagel, who was part of the Great Britain team during the inaugural SailGP global series (Photograph by Matt Knighton)

The dust has hardly settled upon the inaugural SailGP global series, but Emily Nagel can hardly wait for the next campaign to commence early in the new year.

The Bermuda sailor performed her duties as a performance data analyst for Great Britain SailGP Team at all but one of the five-race series and loved each and every moment of what she termed as an “epic rollercoaster ride”.

“Back in February, I booked a flight to the other side of the world and through the kindness of both old friends and strangers was able to intern for the first event of SailGP in Sydney,” Nagel wrote on the social media network instagram.

“After that, I was lucky enough to secure a spot with SailGP GBR as resident boat nerd and since then it has been eight months of an epic rollercoaster ride visiting some awesome venues and watching the boys improve event to event.”

Nagel was initially denied the opportunity of being involved in the new global series.

However, rather than give up hope, she volunteered her services as a performance data analyst for the series-opening regatta in Sydney, Australia which ultimately led to a role serving in the same capacity with Great Britain SailGP Team.

Nagel and her Great Britain team-mates finished fourth among the six nations represented that competed for the SailGP Championship trophy and $1 million (US), the largest monetary prize in the sport of sailing.

The team, led by helmsman Dylan Fletcher, the former 49er world champion, made history after breaking the sport’s elusive 50-knot speed barrier during training ahead of the Cowes SailGP event, which they hosted back in August.

Their 50-foot foiling catamaran, the racing class used for the 35th America’s Cup, which Bermuda hosted, was clocked travelling at a record speed of 50.22 knots (58mph or 93kph).

“We’ve had our highs and lows from winning our first race to crashing in NY and the plague in Marseilles,” Nagel added.

“But I’m so proud of what the guys have accomplished on the water and it has been fantastic working with the legends on shore. Bring on season two.”

The 2020 SailGP series will commence in Sydney between February 28 to 29 and hosted by inaugural champions Australia SailGP Team, who will start their title defence on home waters.

The Australian team, led by skipper Tom Slingsby, defeated Japan SailGP Team in the thrilling Championship Final Race in Marseilles, France.

The Australian finished top of the leaderboard with 229 points, just six points clear of Japan, skippered by Nathan Outteridge.

China, led by Phil Robertson completed the top three on 171 points, ahead of Great Britain on 169 points, France with 164 points and United States on 163.