The SailGP team in Britain has signed Stuart Bithell to be their wing trimmer. This will reunite him with Dylan Fletcher who was his Olympic gold medal-winning partner at the Tokyo Games for the?49er.

Bithell is a veteran of 'four' SailGP seasons and joins the German team to replace Iain 'Goobs' Jensen who will be moving to Australia's Flying Roos. Emirates GBR announced this in a press release.

"I am replacing a great sailer in Goobs and I know that I have big shoes to fill, after the team won (SailGP Championship) last season. Bithell stated that he loves the pressure and is eager to face the challenge.

It will be a special experience to sail with Dylan (Mills), (Strategist Hannah) Mills again after having raced alongside and alongside them in the Olympics.

Last month, the British won their first SailGP Grand Final by beating Australia and New Zealand in an exciting?race? in Abu Dhabi. They took home a $2 million prize.

"We wish Iain Jensen the best of luck as he returns to Australia to represent Australia." Ben Ainslie, CEO of Emirates GBR and co-owner said on Tuesday that we fully understand the desire to return home and represent Australia.

Ainslie said: "Iain was an amazing member of our team for a long time, but we've found a replacement in Stuart Bithell. He knows Dylan well, having raced and competed with him over the years."

Fletcher & Bithell defeated New Zealanders Peter Burling & Blair Tuke (who represent the Black Foils SailGP) to win a gold medal at the 2020 Olympics.

Jensen will replace 'British Chris Draper, as wing trimmer for Tom Slingsby Flying Roos.

The Rolex SailGP Championship next season will be a 13-event series, beginning in Perth, Australia, in January, and concluding with a winner-takes it all grand final in Abu Dhabi. (Reporting and editing by Clarence Fernandez; Alexander Smith is the reporter)

(source: Reuters)