This week saw champion sailing and blockchain tech join forces to bring fans closer to the sport.
At this seasons race in San Francisco, SailGPannounceda partnership withNEAR Foundation, makers of blockchain platform Astro.
What is SailGP?
Each season comprises eight events across the globe, with each event including multiple races.
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And the prize is a cool $1 million for the winning team.
Historically its been most prevalent inracehorseshareholding.
But more recently, its extended tofootball,cycling, and this week, sailboat racing.
Also, the SailGP is an extremely viewer-friendly sport.
Races only last about 15 minutes each, leaving plenty of time for shitposting and NFT trading.
Even better, its exciting stuff to watch.
So where does the DAO come into it?
ADAO(decentralized autonomous organization) is the perfect conduit for lovers of sailing and crypto.
There are currently eight teams competing with two more joining the league next season.
According to SailGP co-founder Russell Coutts, a DAO team could join as early as season four in 2023.
Last year, NEAR created Astro.
The platform enables DAOs to coordinate and verify decision-making, rules, and governance through smart contracts and voting.
Its a conduit to pool funds, vote on strategy, and verify transactions.
Take a look ata beginners guide to joining a DAO.
A DAO could even vote to have a women-only team.
What would a DAO sailing team look like?
Unsurprisingly, sailing is not a cheap sport.
A DAO team seems an extremely viable fundraiser.
Especially when you consider thatcrypto investors raised $40M in 7 daysin an attempt to buy the US Constitution.
Its also an opportunity to educate sailing people on blockchain tech and conversely crypto kids on all things sailing.
Todays teams represent specific countries like Denmark, Australia, the USA, and Switzerland.
A DAO team could be global and borderless instead of national.
Can blockchain tech get green enough to join forces with a race powered by nature?
Theres still, of course, plenty that needs ironing out.
SailGP is the worlds first climate-positive sport.
And its more than just whale conservation.
They launched an Impact League in 2021 alongside the physical race.
However, blockchain is not a space traditionally associated with sustainability.
But NEAR is part of a bigger movement tomine crypto sustainably.
The company uses proof of stake, rather than proof of work, to validate transactions.
This discourages miners that consume huge amounts of energy to compete with each other.
Thus, a SailGP DAO could serve as an example of effective green mining.
Any DAO team would need to comply with the races sustainability criteria.
Most journalists watch the race in the media room via a live broadcast filmed from a helicopter.
Video and audio feeds transmit from cameras and microphones on each boat.
So, sailboat racing is already incredibly tech-heavy, and virtual racing is not an illogical extension.
The SailGP is a young competition, and it needs fans and funds to grow.
Its already pushing the boundaries of the racing and the viewing experience.
Now, theres an opportunity to evolve sailboat racing even further.
Story byCate Lawrence
Cate Lawrence is an Australian tech journo living in Berlin.
