Sail Grand Prix returns to Europe, arriving in England after three years. For the first time, Portsmouth, one of the country's most iconic maritime cities, will host the Emirates Great Britain Sail Grand Prix on 19 and 20 July. With Portsmouth's historic harbour and the Spinnaker Tower as a backdrop, the event will bring together the SailGP fleet, the most technologically advanced boats on the planet, to face the challenge of managing the Solent tides and shifting winds.
After six events, the last three held in the United States, the Spanish team leads the standings with 46 points. They have won the last two races and, under the helm of skipper Diego Botín, will be aiming to complete an impressive hat-trick of consecutive victories. Just one point behind are the three-time champions from Australia, led by Tom Slingsby. The New Zealand team follows with 44 points, led by stars Peter Burling as pilot and Blair Tuke as wing trimmer.
Helmed by Olympic gold medallist Dylan Fletcher, and with double Olympic champion Hannah Mills as strategist, Emirates GBR is counting on local knowledge to be the key to success as the racing begins. The British team, led by the most decorated Olympic sailor of all time, Sir Ben Ainslie, is currently in fourth place with 41 points and hopes to secure a home win after narrowly missing out on the final at the Great Britain Sail Grand Prix in Plymouth in 2022.
After disappointing performances in the last two events held in American waters, finishing seventh and eighth, they will need to give their utmost to make the most of the opportunity to score valuable points on home ground.
An estimated 20,000 people are expected to attend the event this weekend, where top-level talent will be on show across all teams. Also competing are teams flying the flags of Italy, Canada, France, Switzerland, the United States, Denmark, and Brazil. Brazil makes history as the first South American team to compete in SailGP and also the first with a female driver, Olympic champion Martine Grael.
Will “Los Gallos” secure the hat-trick, or will the home team take advantage of the crowd support? Or could one of the oceanic giants, with their star sailors, steal the lead from the Spanish?
The event will be streamed live on SailGP's official YouTube channel on both days, 19 and 20 July or via the official SailGP app.
1. Spain - 46 points
2. Australia - 45 points
3. New Zealand - 44 points
4. Emirates GBR - 41 points
5. Canada - 38 points
6. France - 36 points
7. Switzerland - 20 points
8. Denmark - 14 points
9. Italy - 13 points
10. Brazil - 9 points
11. Germany - 0 points
12. United States - 0 points
