Moving faster than the wind itself, the 15-metre (50ft) catamarans seemingly fly across the surface of the water. Piloted by a team of up to six, at these speeds, every second counts. A feat of cutting-edge engineering, the F50, as the catamarans are known, holds the record as the first boat to hit 103.93kmph (65.58mph) during racing, set by the Rockwool Racing SailGP team (Denmark) at the German Grand Prix last year.
This is part of the draw of the Rolex SailGP Championship. “This is not just sailing. It is racing,” says Andrew Thompson, SailGP’s managing director. During the events, 13 national teams with identical F50s take part in a series of intense, tactical races over two days, which culminate in a final, all against the backdrop of iconic international locations – from Sydney to San Francisco. The next is to take place in Portsmouth this weekend – the Emirates Great Britain Sail Grand Prix kicks off the European leg of the 2026 season.
“When Larry Ellison and I founded SailGP in 2018, our goal was to redefine the way the sport of sailing is perceived and experienced: inspiring the next generation through a first-of-its kind championship for top professional athletes in the sport,” explains Sir Russell Coutts, SailGP’s CEO and co-founder.
The standardised race courses are designed not just for speed, but also audience engagement – close-to-shore stadiums place spectators right at the edge of the action. “Live experiences and gatherings are something computers can’t replace. A day out on the water – or by the water – is not something our robotic friends can replicate yet,” says Thompson.
Premium hospitality is another attraction here. Last year’s Portsmouth event included a collaboration between La Folie Douce and UK Michelin-starred Chef Ollie Dabbous, which saw a curated fine-dining menu paired with signature cocktails and live music. Between races, which usually last 15 minutes, spectators can find interactive experiences such as F50 wheel simulators, cap customisation and grinder challenges to test their strength. This year’s line-up includes Grammy award-winner Jess Glynne on Saturday and Craig David on Sunday, as well as live DJs and roaming performers.
Last year more than 20,000 fans packed Southsea Common, Portsmouth, across the weekend, making the 2025 Emirates Great Britain Sail Grand Prix the biggest ticketed sailing event yet held in the UK, and SailGP’s largest event in the northern hemisphere
Strategy to the top
On 8 July, SailGP announced its 2030 strategy. It is already one of the world’s fastest-growing sports properties, but, with this roadmap, it seeks household-name status: “At the centre of the 2030 strategy is a single, clear ambition: to become a top 25 global sporting championship. Top 25 means standing alongside the DP World Tour in golf, and cricket’s Indian Premier League. It means being assessed in the same breath as the Six Nations and the Tour de France,” says Thompson.
The numbers tell the tale of their success so far. In 2019, the teams were valued at $5-10m, reaching a record $60m (£44.7m) this year. These valuations are the culmination of various factors, including sponsorship, with a quarter of teams profitable from this alone. The fact that there is a limited number of teams boosts those figures too, as scarcity drives value. For the next franchise, estimates range from $70m up to $100m per team.
SailGP has seen some doubts over its viability, as Thompson recalls: “I was told by someone who had spent years at the top of this sport, that sailing would never be commercialised, that we were kidding ourselves, and that we should quit while we were ahead. That type of scepticism sharpened us. It made us more determined, more focused, and ultimately more creative in how we approached building the Rolex SailGP Championship.”
SailGP envisions 30 million dedicated viewers at each event
SailGP envisions 30 million dedicated viewers at each event
Their mission has clearly resonated with commercial partners already. It features a diverse investor base, including sovereign wealth funds, celebrities, sport funds and private equity. Thompson’s approach is paired with initiatives to shape the future of this sport. SailGP’s mission is to race for a better sport with the ocean as its racetrack – pioneering change in the sport and entertainment industry.
Similarly, the championship aims to break down barriers in the sport and promote inclusion. It has two programmes – women’s inclusion, youth engagement – and runs bespoke events to encourage uptake and skill development.
Shaping the future
SailGP is now looking to its future. “Our first five years were about building strong foundations, creating an exceptional, fancentric sporting product, testing what works and learning. Now we are moving into a different phase: one that’s defined by audience growth, consistency and scale,” says Coutts.
Much like motor racing, they see a roster of events anchored in repeat locations – same time, same place, year after year. To this end, SailGP hopes to expand to 20 teams, envisioning 30 million dedicated viewers at each event.
As Coutts summarises, “We have a product that can stand shoulder to shoulder with the world’s leading sports championships… and the next five years are about making sure the world’s sports fans, cities and brands know it.”
For more information on SailGP’s race events, visit sailgp.com
Photographs by Felix Diemer SailGP, Ricardo Pinto SailGP
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