The Bay of Cadiz once again becomes the centre of world sailing this weekend as it hosts the DP World Spain Sail Grand Prix Andalucía–Cádiz for the fourth year in a row. This time the event carries extra weight, as it is the penultimate stop of the 2025 SailGP season and will play a decisive role in shaping who makes it to the Grand Final in Abu Dhabi. For Spain’s team, Los Gallos, it represents both an opportunity and a final test of their ability to defend the crown they won last year.
Led by Olympic gold medallist Diego Botin, Spain arrive in fourth place overall with 70 points. Above them stand Australia’s BONDS Flying Roos with 76, Emirates GBR with 75 and New Zealand’s Black Foils with 73. Six points cover the top four teams, which means the fight for the three available places in the Abu Dhabi final is tighter than ever. Only those three will contest the winner-takes-all race that decides the championship and the two million dollar prize.
Botin has been clear that patience and timing will be essential. “It is a game of experience and of knowing when to attack,” he explained in the build-up to Cádiz. His week is particularly demanding, balancing preparations for the Grand Prix with the 49er World Championships in Cagliari that begin only two days later, yet that pressure is also a source of tactical sharpness that could serve him well against rivals who know the game equally well.
Competing in Cádiz brings its own duality. On the one hand, the support of the Marea Roja, the sea of Spanish fans who line the walls of the Baluarte de la Candelaria and the shoreline, provides unmatched motivation. Last year nearly 100,000 spectators turned out to watch, and this season the new Waterfront Grandstand will add over 3,000 seated places with direct views of the racecourse, ensuring an even more electric atmosphere. On the other hand, the home crowd also raises expectations. “We have extra pressure because of course we want to give something back to our people, but at the same time the strength Cádiz gives us is huge,” said Botin. Strategist Nicole van der Velden added, “We want to be on the podium in front of family, friends and the fans. That pushes us to give everything.”
So far the Spanish team has never managed a podium finish on its own waters, and that is a gap they are determined to close at the most decisive point of the season. The race will also test the latest technical developments, especially the new light air foils introduced in Geneva which allow the F50s to fly in lower wind speeds than before. Cádiz is notorious for its variety of conditions, from gentle easterly breezes to heavy south-westerlies and rolling seas, which makes preparation more complex and rewards adaptability.
Australia’s Tom Slingsby, helmsman of the BONDS Flying Roos, highlighted his team’s shift in mindset. “Historically we always wanted strong wind and big waves, but now our focus is on being equally solid in light air. We are comfortable in everything, and Cádiz will be the perfect place to prove it.” New Zealand’s Peter Burling, leading the Black Foils, pointed to the unique atmosphere of the Spanish venue. “Cádiz is everyone’s favourite stop, the wind conditions, the fans and the energy on shore make it one of the most special events on the circuit.”
The broader picture of the season underlines the sense of unpredictability. Seven different teams have won a Grand Prix in 2025, with Spain, New Zealand and Great Britain taking two each. The margins are tiny and any slip can prove costly. For Los Gallos, Cádiz is more than another regatta, it is a chance to reaffirm that last year’s title was no coincidence, and to position themselves as serious contenders for Abu Dhabi.
Whether the home pressure will weigh them down or drive them forward remains to be seen. What is certain is that Cádiz will once again showcase the fastest sailing fleet in the world, with boats capable of surpassing 100 km/h skimming across the bay in front of a public that has turned this stop into a reference on the international circuit. For Los Gallos, this is a date with history, and Cádiz, once again, will be both judge and stage.
Racing in Cádiz takes place tomorrow and Sunday 5 October, with the action scheduled between 15:30 and 17:00 CEST.
