SailGP partners with Port of Southampton to deliver Cowes SailGP Tech Area
The Port of Southampton will host the Tech Area for the upcoming European debut of SailGP – a new, annual global sports championship featuring the world’s fastest sail racing. In addition to serving as an Official Supplier of the Cowes SailGP Tech Area, the port is also a tier two partner of Cowes SailGP, ABP says in a press release.
Cowes SailGP will take place in the Solent on August 10 and 11, with all six national teams and the SailGP tech team utilizing the Port of Southampton as their home base. The Cowes SailGP Tech Area will be located in the Eastern Docks at the UK’s number one export port, and will host rival teams from Great Britain, Australia, China, France, Japan and the United States. The six 50-foot wingsailed catamarans – known as F50s – will be stored and maintained at the Tech Area.
In its inaugural year, the global league comprises five events. Fourth on the calendar, Cowes SailGP follows events in Sydney (February), San Francisco (May) and New York (June). Cowes marks the first event in the UK for SailGP, with the grand prix serving as an Official Feature Event of the iconic Cowes Week. The first season will conclude with the Grand Final in Marseille, France, in September.
SailGP features some of the world’s top athletes racing foiling F50 catamarans, which fly over the water and are capable of breaking sailing’s elusive 50-knot speed barrier, translating to astonishing speeds in excess of 60 mph.
Leslie Ryan, UK Event Director, SailGP Cowes, said: “We are delighted that the Port of Southampton will host the Tech Area for Cowes SailGP. The set-up and infrastructure they have in place is second to none and will provide a great base for the SailGP teams and organisation in the weeks leading up to, and during the event itself.”
Alastair Welch, Director at the Port of Southampton, said: “We are thrilled to be an Official Supplier and able to host the SailGP teams during this global sporting event held in the Solent. While the port mainly handles trade across automotive, containers and cruise activities, we’re pleased to be able to expand our traditional trade offerings to support this exciting endeavour, which we are sure will be a great boost for the local area.”
In August, fans are encouraged to head to Cowes to watch the racing from the free-to-access SailGP Race Village situated between Cowes Green and Egypt Point with big screens, live race commentary, stage shows and more. Racing takes place from 3-4:30 p.m. each day, with activity beginning at 11:30 a.m. For those in search of the best views, day and weekend tickets are available in the grandstand and on-water. In addition, boat owners can register to gain access to the inner perimeter, or boats may be chartered through one of the Official Charter Partners.
SailGP is sailing redefined. Established in 2018 and headquartered in London and San Francisco, SailGP is an annual, global sports championship featuring bold, cutting-edge technology and awe-inspiring athleticism. The fan-centric, inshore racing takes place in some of the most iconic harbors around the globe and culminates with a $1 million winner-takes-all match race. Rival national teams from Australia, China, France, Great Britain, Japan and the United States battle it out in identical supercharged F50 catamarans, engineered for intense racing at electrifying speeds exceeding 50 knots (nearly 60 mph/100 kph).