Plymouth has beaten competition from five other cities in the UK to host the prestigious SailGP’s Season 2 European debut.
Featuring the world’s fastest inshore sail racing, the event is expected to attract tens of thousands of visitors to Plymouth over the weekend of July 17 and 18. It will attract a global audience of tens of millions who will follow the racing via the world’s top-tier broadcasters in more than 100 territories – including exclusively in the UK on Sky Sports.
The eight teams from around the world will arrive in Plymouth following the season opener in San Fransisco in April and New York SailGP in June. They all compete in hi-tech catamarans capable of speeds approaching 60mph.
The adrenaline-filled racing between competing nations will take place on Plymouth Sound in partnership with Plymouth City Council, with support from Associated British Ports, English Cities Fund and Sutton Harbour Group.
Plymouth SailGP will also form part of the city’s Mayflower 400 commemorations, marking the anniversary of the signature voyage across the Atlantic Ocean to America. Plymouth was selected following a competitive six-month-long bid process involving five other UK cities.
New for British fans in Season 2 will be the addition of the New Zealand SailGP Team to the impressive line-up of world-class sailors and top sailing nations. Among the league stars is the most successful Olympic sailor of all time, Sir Ben Ainslie, who will give the home crowd something to cheer about at the British event.
Ainslie said:
“For us as a British team there is nothing better than racing in front of a home crowd and we are incredibly excited about the prospect. There is an element of nostalgia for me personally, having grown up and learned to sail in the West Country and now all these years later coming back to race on the international stage. Plymouth is a fantastic sailing venue with a natural amphitheatre for the fans to watch these amazing F50s.”
SailGP CEO Sir Russell Coutts said:
“We are really excited to add Plymouth as the third event in Season 2 of SailGP. The British have a very talented team led by Ben Ainslie and I’m sure they will receive a lot of local support in their bid for the global championship.
“Plymouth is a city that shares a lot of the same DNA as SailGP, with a strong focus on marine technology and well aligned with our sustainability objectives. It also provides great viewing opportunities for spectators, who can view the racing from an elevated position on Plymouth Hoe. We look forward to staging a fantastic event and working with Plymouth City Council to ensure we leave a positive lasting impression and legacy in the city.”
Pete Smith, deputy leader of Plymouth City Council, said:
“We’re absolutely thrilled to welcome one of the world’s most spectacular sailing events to Plymouth – where better to play host than Britain’s Ocean City. It’s going to be an unmissable weekend, with fast and furious racing that spectators can witness up close thanks to the natural amphitheatre provided by Plymouth Sound.
“As well as providing a thrilling experience for visitors and locals, the economic impact of the event has the potential to be huge. This is brilliant news, especially as we look ahead to the future and focus on post-pandemic economic recovery. We’ll be working closely with SailGP to maximize the opportunities offered, ensuring that our residents benefit positively and inspiring a love of sailing in the next generation with an accompanying youth engagement program.”
Following the UK leg, SailGP plans to remain in Europe for grand prix events in the other team markets: Denmark, France and Spain. Further dates and venues will be announced in the coming months.
