SailGP’s 2026 return to Halifax has one of Team Canada’s top athletes fired up

NorthStar SailGP Team flight controller Billy Gooderham spends race days strapped into one of the fastest sailing machines on earth. He flies a foiling catamaran that can hit highway speeds while balancing forty separate controls beneath the waterline. It is one of the most demanding roles in professional sailing and he says Halifax is the place he wants to perform.

Gooderham lives in HRM now and says Halifax is already one of the most electric venues in the league. The 2024 event drew some of the loudest crowds on the global circuit and pushed the city near the top of SailGP’s attendance rankings for a first-time host.

“It was the sound that really stood out,” Gooderham said. “These boats are loud and complex and fast. Even with noise cancelling earbuds I could still hear the roar of the crowds on the wharf. That tells you how passionate NorthStar fans are.”

For a flight controller to notice anything outside the boat is rare. His job requires tunnel vision. While the F50 skims above the water on carbon foils he is locked on to a set of visual cues and a wall of HMI controls that adjust pitch, ride height, and foil angles in real time.

“In simple terms I am in charge of flying the boat out of the water,” he said. “I have a ton of buttons and dials at my disposal to constantly adjust the foil package and keep us fast and stable.”

The job is far more physical than most spectators realize. The G-forces hit three times what a jet passenger feels during takeoff. Gooderham says people often assume he is just sitting comfortably pressing buttons, but the reality is closer to a full-body workout.

“Both of my hands are always occupied making precise adjustments. The only way to brace is to clench every muscle in your body and wedge yourself into the cockpit as hard as possible,” he said. “Even the sprint across the boat happens at speeds similar to the 102 highway on a platform that is constantly moving on every axis.”

That intensity is part of why he wants Halifax to become a regular stop.

As one of the only venues on the tour that blends tight city racing with strong wind potential, Halifax stands out as a place where a complete team performance is required. Some SailGP stops reward straight-line speed. Others reward clean maneuvering in tight spaces. Gooderham says Halifax is the rare mix of both.

“The Halifax race track is truly unique. It really demands a full performance across everything the F50 can do,” he said.

Team Canada arrives this season with more data and more experience, especially after a run of mixed conditions around the world. Their recent event in Spain featured calm and light weather, the opposite of what they expect on the Atlantic waterfront in June.

With three full seasons of analytics behind them the crew will arrive with precise adjustments dialed into the systems.

“We have compiled a huge amount of data and notes about different setups. The big ones for me are the differences in minimum speeds for takeoff and foiling maneuvers for each foil package. We even adjust those numbers based on water temperature and salinity,” Gooderham said.

Halifax also carries emotional weight for him. He has lived in HRM for more than two years and says the city consistently delivers some of the best sports crowds anywhere.

“Halifax always shows up,” he said. “I have yet to go to a sporting event here that was not packed with passionate fans. They give us that little bit of extra motivation to make sure we are at the pointy end of the fleet.”

This season’s highlight for the team was a major win in Los Angeles, one of the biggest results in the program’s history. Gooderham calls it the moment that proved what the team is capable of when everything clicks.

“To win at the highest level of this sport is really hard to do,” he said. “We proved that when we sail our best we can do it. That is what we aim to bring to the harbour next June.”

His message to Haligonians is simple.

“Come out and watch. Our city and harbour are the perfect amphitheatre for SailGP racing. We are a few weeks later next year so the weather should be better,” he said with a grin.

The team returns to Halifax with momentum, confidence, and a home crowd ready to shake the waterfront again.