US SailGP Team Hit by Second Injury Blow Before Geneva

18th September 2026

Afloat.ie Team

Injury Blow: US SailGP Team reserve driver Harry Melges IV has been ruled out of the Geneva Sail Grand Prix with a leg injury Credit: US SailGP Team

The US SailGP Team has suffered a second injury setback ahead of this weekend’s Rolex Switzerland Sail Grand Prix in Geneva, with reserve driver Harry Melges IV ruled out just a day after regular driver Taylor Canfield was confirmed unavailable.

Melges, who had been expected to step into the driving role following Canfield’s withdrawal, has suffered a leg injury and will not compete on Lake Geneva on September 19-20.

Canfield had earlier been ruled out with what the team described as an “upper body injury”. His absence came immediately after the Americans won the Spain Sail Grand Prix in Valencia, a result which moved them into third place in the 2026 championship standings.

Driver Search for Geneva

Melges was the obvious replacement for Canfield, but his own injury leaves the US team without either of its designated drivers for a crucial stage of the season.

The American team is third overall on 56 points, just one point ahead of fourth-placed Artemis, with three Grands Prix remaining before the season-ending Grand Final.

The top three teams at the end of the regular season qualify for the winner-takes-all Grand Final, where the 2026 SailGP championship will be decided.

Melges Ruled Out

Melges joined the US SailGP Team towards the end of the 2025 season. The Lake Geneva, Wisconsin sailor was the 2021 US Rolex Yachtsman of the Year and was part of a TP52 World Championship-winning campaign in 2025.

His withdrawal compounds the disruption for a US campaign that had gathered momentum with its victory in Valencia earlier this month.

SailGP’s latest Geneva group announcement confirms that both Canfield and Melges are ruled out, leaving the US driver position to be filled ahead of racing.

Geneva Test

The Americans are due to race in Geneva alongside Artemis and Germany in their group under SailGP’s fleet-racing format. The championship situation adds particular significance to the US-Artemis encounter, with only a point separating the teams in third and fourth overall.

The Rolex Switzerland Sail Grand Prix takes place on Lake Geneva on Saturday and Sunday, September 19-20.

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