Andy Maloney's confirmation as flight controller for Artemis SailGP reunites two sailors who shared one of the sport's great recent victories, bringing a proven and composed operator into a team taking shape with serious intent ahead of the 2026 Rolex SailGP Championship.
The partnership between Maloney and team skipper Nathan Outteridge is grounded in genuine history. The pair worked in close coordination during the 2024 America's Cup campaign with Emirates Team New Zealand, a shared experience that produced the kind of trust that is difficult to manufacture and almost impossible to replicate quickly. While both have accumulated significant SailGP mileage in their own right, the coming season will be the first time they contest a full championship together on the same boat.
Maloney steps into the Artemis programme after recent stints with the Mubadala Brazil SailGP Team and New Zealand's Black Foils. Those seasons built him a reputation as one of the league's steadiest hands in a role that punishes hesitation and rewards precision. The flight controller aboard an F50 manages foil rake, rudder trim, ride height, and overall stability at speeds that can approach 50 knots, demanding constant fine adjustments and sharp situational awareness. Composure and timing count for as much as raw aggression in that seat.
Outteridge was direct about what Maloney brings to the campaign.
"Andy and I have shared some incredible moments on the water," Outteridge said.
"We've both raced in SailGP before, but this is the first time we'll be on the same team for a full season. Andy's one of the sharpest flight controllers in the game and having him onboard gives us a huge advantage. I'm excited to sail with him again, this time with Artemis."
For Maloney, the appeal of joining a new team at its inception was a significant part of the decision.
"Joining Artemis SailGP is a really exciting step," Maloney said.
"There's a clear vision here, and the chance to help build a new team is something I'm really motivated by.
"I've raced both with and against Nathan and Chris plenty of times, and now teaming up with them again in SailGP feels like the right challenge at the right time. I'm proud of my journey in the league so far and now it's about bringing that experience into Artemis and helping build something world class."
The broader Artemis roster reinforces how deliberately Outteridge has constructed this lineup. Alongside himself and Maloney, the team comprises Chris Draper, Julia Gross, Brad Farrand, and Julius Hallström, a group that collectively spans America's Cup campaigns, multiple SailGP seasons, and deep technical expertise. Every seat has been filled by a sailor with a track record at the sport's highest level, and the combination of specialist skill across each role positions Artemis as a credible threat from its very first race.
The team's championship debut is set for the Oracle Perth Sail Grand Prix presented by KPMG on 17 and 18 January, the opening event of the 2026 season. When the fleet lines up off Perth, Outteridge and Maloney will be competing together under a new banner for the first time, carrying a shared understanding forged at the America's Cup into a campaign built to win from the outset.
