SailGP Returns to UK Waters After 3-Year Hiatus

Portsmouth hosts the European leg opener with the season’s largest grandstand crowd of 20,000 - Emirates GBR Seeks Redemption at Home After 8th-Place Finish

Emirates GBR Team ready for battle on home waters in Portsmouth, UK

The SailGP fleet has landed in Portsmouth and the city is going big. Set against the backdrop of the Solent and Southsea Common, the Emirates Great Britain Sail Grand Prix is expected to draw 20,000 fans across the July 19–20 weekend for a race-meets-rave weekend. With headline performances from Tom Grennan (Saturday) and Pete Tong (Sunday), plus fly-bys on F50 catamarans, this is a showcase of speed, spectacle, and serious championship ambition.

This is the seventh event in SailGP’s 2025 season and the opening act for the European leg. It also marks SailGP’s return to UK waters after a three-year hiatus. With all 12 national teams on the startline and just 10 points separating the top six, every race this weekend carries major Grand Final implications. Only the top three teams will qualify for the winner-takes-all showdown in Abu Dhabi.

Race Pressure: Where Every Point Now Counts

Spain leads the leaderboard after back-to-back wins in San Francisco and New York, with Australia and New Zealand close behind. All three have their sights set on solidifying their top-three standing ahead of the final stretch.

New Zealand Driver and CEO Peter Burling made it clear that the season’s midpoint is no place to plateau.

“To win it, you’ve got to make the top three and then win the finals. Spain showed that last year. It’s all about making sure your team keeps improving.” - Pete Burling

Emirates GBR: The Home Team Under Fire

For Emirates GBR, racing on home waters comes with both a spotlight and expectations. The team is fresh off an eighth-place finish in New York—far from the performance they need to remain in the Grand Final conversation.

“We didn’t bring our A game [in New York and San Francisco] and we’ve spent a lot of time analyzing that. Hopefully we’ve had our bad events and from here it will be all the way to the top.” - GBR Driver Dylan Fletcher.

When asked about one day running her own team, Strategist Hannah Mills—double Olympic gold medalist—emphasized that her ambitions stretch beyond this weekend.

“Who wouldn’t want to own a SailGP team, or be part of setting one up? That’s my ultimate goal” - Hannah Mills

A Familiar Solent for Giles Scott—But He’s Not Here to Support GBR

While he now races for Canada, Giles Scott has an edge few in the field can claim—he used to live and train in Portsmouth. Scott’s experience on these waters, combined with Canada’s current standing just outside podium contention, makes them a real wildcard threat heading into this weekend’s races.

"I used to live here. It’s great to be back... I’d love to ruin the British party a little bit, to be honest.” - Giles Scott

League Growth: From Six Teams to a 14-Boat Future

SailGP’s growth is as visible off the water as it is on it. From a six-team launch in 2019 to 12 now, the league has confirmed a 13th and 14th boat will be ready by the start of next season—potentially prompting a shift to a split-fleet race format. Rolex has signed on as title sponsor, and major investment is flowing into teams and infrastructure.

“Seeing the level of investor groups and the excitement building around the league really builds the offering.” - CEO Russell Coutts

Storytelling and Star Power: Hollywood and the F50

Team Australia made global headlines last month with the addition of celebrity co-owners Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman. While they're new to sailing, their impact could be transformational.

“They’re not giving sailing advice yet. But their biggest impact will be storytelling—fan engagement, content series, new ways to tell the story of SailGP. That’s where we’ll see a huge impact.” - Tom Slingsby

Meanwhile, in Portsmouth, British TV host Mark Wright joined Emirates GBR for a pre-event ride on the F50, hitting speeds of over 100 km/h. Jamie Redknapp and Tom Davis also joined the fleet to film scenes for A League of Their Own’s upcoming season.

“That boat moves like nothing I’ve ever felt. It’s unreal.” — Mark Wright

“You can’t fake that rush. That’s real speed.” — Jamie Redknapp