ADRENALINE RACING FOR A BETTER FUTURE: HOW SAIL GRAND PRIX IS INSPIRING THE NEXT GENERATION
SailGP is heading to Britain’s Ocean City of Plymouth on July 17-18
Beyond the thrill of a catamaran flying across the water’s surface and crowds cheering at the globally-admired SailGP, there exists so much more than meets the eye.
SailGP, the sport’s pinnacle league, is coming to Plymouth - Britain’s Ocean City - this summer. The organisation has committed itself to providing meaning and value to all SailGP activities and wants to positively impact local communities and the environment, both on and off the water. Sailing is too often viewed as an elitist sport, created only for the few to enjoy, but SailGP is here to change mindsets.The organisation wants to race for a better future - a better sport and a better planet - to ensure that the sport is accessible to people from all walks of life. Local community activities include the league’s Adopt-a-club where each of the league’s eight national teams will adopt a local sailing club or organisation in Plymouth and fly its flag to show support and create engagement for the local community.
SailGP Inspires
The Inspire programme, a community engagement programme, has been set up for young people to discover their potential.
Inspire is split up into three vital initiatives aimed at helping the youth of today to learn and gain invaluable skills.
Inspire Learning is a community engagement programme that breaks boundaries in sailing and races for a better future.The programme has been designed for local children and underprivileged youth - some who may have never even seen a boat before.
The Inspire Racing initiative is for young athletes that are aiming to be professionals in the future and need as much advice and guidance from experienced athletes as possible in order to succeed.
Inspire Careers provides young people with the chance to gain experience in a range of fields including marketing and communications, hospitality, maritime industry, technical team, boat building, hydraulics or event management.
Setting a new standard: Climate Positive
Always moving forward, SailGP has some important goals for the future, including becoming the world’s most sustainable and purpose-driven global sport, breaking boundaries and inspiring change not just in sailing but in the wider sports community and beyond. SailGP is the first ‘climate-positive’ sports and entertainment property, going beyond a net-zero carbon footprint in all business and event operations.
The event already holds the accolade of being the first sports organisation to achieve both the Carbon Neutral International Standard and participation in the UN’s Climate Neutral Now initiative.
To be climate positive, SailGP will both drastically reduce its carbon output and invest in projects to eliminate more than the remaining emissions, ultimately creating an environmental benefit.
More about the SailGP event
Expect real emotion, state-of-the-art technology and incredible drama as elite athletes fly cutting-edge, high-performance F50 foiling, wing-sailed catamarans in thrilling close-to-shore races across the world.
Eight teams from Japan, USA, UK, France, Denmark, Australia, NZ and Spain, compete across three continents across the globe including Plymouth, Devon, spanning 2021-2022 for Season 2.
The Great Britain SailGP Team’s home event will take place in Plymouth, Devon.The city will host the third event of SailGP Season 2 as part of the global league’s schedule for 2021, where the sport’s best athletes from across the world will race across Plymouth Sound on July 17-18. The Great Britain SailGP Team is driven by interim skipper Paul Goodison, decorated foiling sailor and Olympic Gold medallist.
The opening five fleet races involve every team and then the final race pits the three highest-ranking teams against each other to be crowned the event champion.The SailGP season ends with the grand final which includes the championship final race in San Francisco.
The winning team will then be crowned and receive an incredible $1 million in prize money. Each event is two days long with three races on each day and six races in total. Crowds will be awe-struck by the F50 catamarans as they reach speeds of 60mph.
Plymouth Hoe provides a spectacular viewpoint for fans to immerse themselves in the adrenalin-filled action as the foiling F50 catamarans race right in front of their eyes within the natural amphitheatre of Plymouth Sound.
Ways to view the action Waterfront Access - Free
On land, there will be a free access area within the Spectator Area on the Hoe. Access is via registration and includes live race commentary, the official merchandise store, entertainment, immersive experiences, refreshments, stage and podium with athlete appearances.
There is also a “bring your own boat” programme whereby people planning to watch the grand prix from their own vessel can get the best vantage spot on the racecourse perimeter on Plymouth Sound.
Bring your own boat Access - Free
Spectators can register for free to bring their own boat. Once registered, they will receive an e-newsletter with essential course details from race management to help them position boats in the best area to witness the action.They will also be able to access live commentary over VHF and SailGP will offset their carbon footprint for the race day.
For those who want to follow the racing at home, it will be televised live via Sky Sports with highlights across the league’s social channels. Fans can also download the free SailGP App to access onboard data and camera feeds for a fully immersive experience.
To find out more about SailGP and its programmes or to book tickets, visit sailgp.com