How Much Do Pro Racers Get Paid?

How much do professional yacht racers get paid? It’s a question weekend sailors often ask, but is rarely answered. However, a recent Associated Press item gives us some insights into the question. It states that Oracle Team USA America’s Cup 34 team member Dirk de Ridder is on the verge of being suspended by the International Sailing Federation from ISAF-sanctioned events for five years. It’s been reported that "not only is de Ridder banned from the 2017 America’s Cup, he’ll be unable to accept a $500,000 contract to sail in the Volvo (around the world) Ocean Race, which starts later this year. De Ridder, 41, who is Dutch, was found guilty of having illegally modified OTUSA’s AC45s. He can still appeal the decision from a review board or the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

We don’t have any problem with crew for a Volvo getting paid half a mil. After all, it’s an extreme event, takes lots of skill, and is far more dangerous than the majority of sailors, let alone non-sailors, appreciate.