Phil Robertson: From Waka Racing Skipper to Red Bull Italy Star

Brief overview of Phil Robertson’s career in sailing

Phil Robertson is a New Zealand professional sailor who serves as the driver of the Red Bull Italy SailGP Team.

He started racing competitively at the age of 10 and joined the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron Youth Training Programme at 16. The program helped him develop his match-racing skills and prepared him for international competition.

Robertson later joined Waka Racing and spent six years with the team. In 2016, he won the World Match Racing Championship. He then skippered the CHINAone Ningbo team and reached every World Match Racing Tour final from the middle of 2016. During that period, he recorded five victories and three runner-up finishes.

Robertson also won the M32 World Championship in 2017 and 2018. He has since competed in SailGP with China, Spain, Canada, and Red Bull Italy.

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Phil Robertson’s age, family and early life

Phil Robertson was born in 1987 in Auckland, New Zealand. He grew up in a sailing family and started racing at the age of 10. During his junior years, he competed in the Optimist and P Class before building and racing a Starling dinghy with his father.

As a teenager, Robertson chose match racing instead of the traditional Olympic pathway. He joined the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron Youth Training Programme, where he trained in Elliott 6 boats and competed in national and international events.

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How did Phil Robertson get to SailGP?

Phil Robertson reached SailGP after more than a decade in match racing and foiling competition. He joined the World Match Racing Tour in 2009 and went on to win two World Match Racing Tour championships and three Match Cup Sweden titles.

From 2012, Robertson competed in the Extreme Sailing Series with Oman Air. He spent several seasons racing GC32 foiling catamarans and recorded multiple podium finishes.

Ahead of SailGP's inaugural season in 2019, he was selected as the driver of the China SailGP Team. He later represented Spain and Canada before joining the Red Bull Italy SailGP Team in 2025.

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Notable moments and races in Phil Robertson’s career

In 2016, Robertson won his first World Match Racing Tour Championship. He added another major title in 2017 by winning the M32 World Championship and successfully defended the crown in 2018.

In 2019, he won a second World Match Racing Tour Championship with CHINAone Ningbo. That same year, he guided the China SailGP Team to third place in SailGP's inaugural season.

Across his career, Robertson has competed for several SailGP teams and remains one of the circuit's most experienced drivers.

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Phil Robertson height: How tall is Phil Robertson?

Phil Robertson is 5 feet 5 inches (165 cm) tall. 

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What is Phil Robertson’s net worth?

Phil Robertson's net worth has not been publicly disclosed. 

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Phil Robertson’s relationship status: Who is Phil Robertson’s wife?

There is no publicly available information about Phil Robertson's relationship status. 

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Cover Photo: Felix Diemer for SailGP