SailGP transcends Yachting

Photography By: Bob Martin, Felix Diemer, Jason Ludlow, Ricardo Pinto, Iain McGregor for SailGP

Fresh from the Auckland SailGP weekend, writer Tim Warren is more than a little excited about what he just watched!

The Rolex SailGP is an event unlike any other, a true spectacle conceived by Russell Coutts, the New Zealand sailing legend. Although he may have compromised his hero status a little bit during his time with other teams, he is now redeeming himself with SailGP. Coutts and his team meticulously analyzed what makes sporting events captivating and incorporated those elements into SailGP. Sailed in 50-foot catamarans with a wing in place of a sail, the formula with which New Zealand won the 2017 Bermuda America’s Cup in 2017.

The fleet racing format ensures a high level of action and excitement. Races are rapid-fire, with four 15-minute races on both Saturday and Sunday. The eight-leg courses are designed to maximize viewing pleasure and bring the boats together frequently. The first and final legs are short sprints, ensuring thrilling finishes in front of the grandstand.

Determined to create a better spectacle than America’s Cup, with its infrequent races (once every three to five years is common), large boats, and offshore courses, SailGP prioritizes accessibility and excitement. Races are held close to shore, allowing spectators to witness the action up close, from the land. Seven fleet races are held to establish a leaderboard and then the final race is the top three teams in a one off shoot out.

This year twelve national teams compete in a franchise format, akin to Formula One. However, SailGP offers a more involving experience, with no safety fences obstructing the view. In the America’s Cup, boats are shrouded in secrecy, but in SailGP, spectators can even see and touch the high-tech foils.

The Auckland course is in the city center just off Wynyard wharf, with easy access to public transportation and motorways. The harbour is a natural stadium with hundreds of viewing points. The site is more than just a grandstand though. There were at least three bars, 20 food truck vendors, entertainment as you walked to your spot and a positive party atmosphere that was reminiscent of the 2011 Rugby World Cup. Add to that an entertainment lounge and corporate suites, they have checked every box! The SailGP organisation rave about the local setup.

This weekend teams were challenged with new titanium T-foils (different to the previous L shaped ones) and limited training time, adding another layer of unpredictability to the competition. Everything is learned on the water.

SailGP aims to make sailing appealing to everyone, regardless of their background or knowledge of the sport or budget. The event’s format and close-to-shore racing create a spectacle that anyone can enjoy. Some scenes have never been seen in the history of yachting. Take this for instance take this, a yacht racing at 80+ kph past an 8,000 person stadium that can see the entire course.

To support accessibility and understanding SailGP employs common place terminology, using familiar terms like “athletes,” “drivers,” and “KPH” to engage a wider audience. This deliberate choice, driven by Russell Coutts, reflects the event’s focus on entertainment, commerciality, and broad appeal.

Instead of relying on billionaire backers, SailGP is designed to be a financially sound enterprise. It prioritizes visual appeal for both live and television audiences and incorporates cutting-edge technology to attract top competitors.

SailGP clearly embraces technology, both in the boats and in the viewing experience. Future developments include augmented reality applications that will allow viewers to experience the race from their living rooms or to be at the stadium seating and get the graphics overlaid to help you understand the course, a really good use for augmented reality. And there’s more behind-the-scenes action to come. The “Racing on the Edge” YouTube series offers a behind-the-scenes look at the action, similar to Formula 1’s “Drive to Survive.” It’s entirely a SailGP production..

“One of our main focuses as a championship is breaking down the barriers which have historically hindered the sport of sailing. We want to make the Rolex SailGP Championship accessible to the modern sporting fan and are seeing massive audience growth around the world. In Season 4, our dedicated broadcast audience was just under 200 million – and outside of broadcast, we’re seeing our fanbase getting younger and more gender-balanced.”

“It’s also about delivering a world-class spectator experience. Whether you’re a passionate sailing fan, or someone who just enjoys a great day out by the water.” said Nat Fortier, Global Communications Director for SailGP.

Maintaining a global racing circuit requires careful logistical planning. Race weekends are typically three to four weeks apart, although some are only two weeks apart. This March presents a unique challenge, with back-to-back races in Los Angeles and San Francisco on consecutive weekends. To facilitate this tight turnaround, teams will utilize a shared base, with minimal equipment.

Transporting the boats and necessary equipment between venues is a significant undertaking. In Europe, where feasible, overland trucking is the preferred method. For other locations, SailGP employs sea shipping. They are planning to build their own soon : a dedicated 150-meter custom ship. This vessel will boast two stories of team bases, two cranes for efficient loading and unloading, and ample space to accommodate support vessels. The ship will feature over 100 cabins for technical crew, VIP suites, media centers, and catering facilities. This self-contained mobile base will allow for seamless transitions between races, and even allow repairs and maintenance on the go!

While the logistical hub travels with the circuit, the technology center remains permanently based in the UK. This centralized location provides consistent support and reduces the need to transport specialized personnel and equipment. The boats were all built in NZ until recently. The boat building center, originally based in Warkworth, New Zealand moved to the UK a year ago to support the global operations and reduce transportation overhead. This streamlined logistical approach underscores SailGP’s oft stated commitment to efficiency and a core value, sustainability.

Live feeds are streamed to London where the broadcast signal is produced in London and then back to us here in less than a second. But everything, all the producers, all the commentators, apart from Lisa Darmanin, who is on the water, everyone else sits in London. It’s good for consistency of production and it’s a sustainable approach. Not flying people around the world, really trying to minimize impact.

It has worked a treat. SailGP has created more than just a sailing race; it’s a captivating event that combines athleticism, technology, and entertainment. With its focus on accessibility, sustainability, and a sound business model, SailGP is remaking the sport of sailing and bringing it to a global audience. I for one was impressed and I will be going back!

Oh, and how did New Zealand do? Well in the fleet races we were off the mark and while the Black Foils won one of the fleet races we came 4th in the standings and didn’t make the 3 boat final. All good, we still top the overall standings and we know it’s coming back to New Zealand – I’m sure the Black Foils will do better next time! The Australian boat helmed by Tom Slingsby was simply a class act – setting an impressive standard that others just couldn’t match!