In this episode, Mike Buckley reflects on leading the U.S. SailGP Team at a moment when the league is evolving as quickly as the boats that define it. Our conversation traces the layered demands of a sport built around foiling technology, where control depends on reading data as fluently as wind and water, and where the space between balance and instability narrows to a thin, trembling line. Buckley walks through the constant process of refinement that shapes each race weekend, from the granular decisions made on the F50 to the long-view strategies that guide a team through an entire season.

We also step back to consider the shifting world around SailGP itself, a league that is drawing new audiences through unexpected cultural intersections. The presence of figures like DJ Khaled on the dock, cameras rolling and excitement rising, signals the way high-performance sailing is entering broader public view. Buckley reflects on how this growing visibility shapes the team’s identity, responsibility, and long-term goals, adding another layer to the work of leadership in a sport gaining momentum with every stop on the circuit.

Across our discussion, a consistent thread emerges: the discipline required to think faster than the conditions, to stay ahead of the curve in a system defined by speed, and to build a team capable of meeting a future that refuses to slow down. Whether you follow the league closely or are just discovering its pace, this episode offers a clear look at the demanding, innovative world in which the U.S. SailGP Team is charting its course.