Racing that rocks the waterfront

Think you know sailing? Think again, because the Emirates Great Britain Sail Grand Prix – the sport’s pinnacle championship known as ‘SailGP’ to those in the know – isn’t just about adrenaline-pumping competition (although there’s plenty of that). It’s also a day of music and festivities by the water’s edge. And who doesn’t like the sound of that on a hot summer’s day?

For one weekend only from July 25-26, the most exciting race on the water heads to Southsea Common in Portsmouth – home of defending 2025-season champions Emirates Great Britain SailGP Team – before moving to Germany, Spain and Switzerland later in the summer. Over the Saturday and Sunday, no less than 13 national teams will go head-to-head on the choppy waters of the Solent in identical F50 catamarans. It’s quite the picture. Short but fierce, each race will give the world’s best waterborne athletes the chance to battle it out for glory (and gold) with the Waterfront Grandstand playing host to awe-inspiring views of the whole damn thing for up to 20,000 cheering fans. The atmosphere? You can almost cut it with a knife.

It’s a proper day out, too – whether you go for just one of the dates or the whole weekend – with race stadium hosts providing live commentary and large screens meaning you won’t miss a beat of the action, interactive games like the SailGP simulator stoking competitive spirits and family-friendly activities that means the kids are kept more than entertained. But the best bit? Après-sail entertainment – don’t you just love that? – comes in the form of live performances by Jess Glynne on Saturday and Craig David presents TS5 on Sunday. There’s also a handful of packages that mean you can treat yourself to a VIP experience. Our picks are the VELA Beach Club – a chic waterfront space primed for Instagram – as well the premium experience of the Waterfront Grandstand, complete with fast-track entry and plenty of food and drink. Talk about vibes!  

As you’d expect, SailGP is one of the hottest tickets in the sporting and social calendar, so you better round-up the troops and bag yours before they’re gone. Then, expect anything but plain sailing on the water during the killer weekend.

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