The Rolex SailGP championships recently came to Dubai and I just so happened to be in town – so of course we were going to join in on the action. I’ve always maintained a level of interest in sailing – some of my happiest childhood memories were sailing trips with my father via the Helford River (although far more sedate). My father has always been quite the seasoned yachtsman, having previously sailed across the Atlantic to the Caribbean several times and competed in the Cornish Laverack Race, an overnight voyage from Helford to France and back. His adventures always inspired me to want to go out and have my own – a Caribbean voyage is very much on the bucket list if anyone needs a crew member!
Admittedly, over years I have somewhat drifted away from my sailing heritage, so the kick-off of the 2025 SailGP Season 5 in Dubai seemed like a good opportunity to re-connect with the sport.
The SailGP Championships tours around the world and showcase 12 national teams (including Great Britain) which compete in a 14-race circuit, with a several million prize for the taking in the Grand Final. I’m no boat expert but I can tell you that the racing models are F50 foiling catamarans, which have apparently previously featured in the America’s Cup.
It was thrilling to be in the midst of the action on the water, rather than on the grandstand. We were joined in the exclusion zone by a whole fleet of Wind Rises boats based out of Dubai’s Port Mina Rashid.
Amongst our crew were avid sailors, some of whom were perusing a professional career. I hadn’t quite realised just how much training (from a young age) is required to get to an elite level – and just how competitive it is to even break into the sport.
In the end, New Zealand beat Emirates GBR and the United States, topping almost every racing metric across the board. Though it was exciting to see Emirates GBR put on a good show.
It was a truly brilliant day out on the water and definitely one of my main highlights from my trip to Dubai. The next SailGP installments will be coming to Auckland, New Zealand in January 2025, followed by Sydney, Australia in February 2025.
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