Charted Course: Saint-Tropez Events Through The Years
Join us on a trip down memory lane to recount previous seasons of the France Sail Grand Prix in Saint-Tropez…
Published 09/5/2025
Saint-Tropez might be known for glitz, glamour and superyachts but next weekend a fleet of F50s will take centre stage as SailGP returns to the French Riviera for the fourth time.
The U.S. SailGP Team is looking to build on encouraging results last time out in Sassnitz after going 3-9-4 in Northern Germany on Saturday.
Saint-Tropez is a storied venue in SailGP history – here’s everything you need to know about previous editions of the France Sail Grand Prix held on the Côte d’Azur…
Season 2
The U.S. SailGP Team very nearly clinched its first-ever SailGP event win, narrowly missing out to Japan in the Final to finish second.
A dramatic wind shift swung the race to Japan, lifting Nathan Outteridge’s crew to the top of the Championship Standings after Event 5, with Jimmy Spithill’s U.S. team only two points behind.
It was a result made all the more impressive for Spithill and co. given wing trimmer Paul Campbell-James’ improbable return to the boat after breaking his leg during practice in Denmark three weeks prior. In light winds, teams were three up with Andrew Campbell completing the U.S. crew.
Speaking afterwards, Spithill said: “It was a great race and a great event for our team. It was dynamic, lots of minefields on the racecourse and we have to give credit to Japan for sailing a good race.
The U.S. SailGP Team F50 foiling in Saint-Tropez in Season 2 of SailGP
"I think in those conditions you know you've got to sail with the wind you've got. You need a few things to go your way, but again overall, I think Japan is sailing well in those sorts of conditions compared to the fleet.”
The fleet used new 29 meter wings for the first time and the U.S. SailGP Team went 5-1-1-7-4 to finish top of the leaderboard and qualify for Sunday’s Final. For Tom Slingsby and Australia, leaders prior to the event, it was a frustrating weekend with hydraulic and electrical issues meaning they lost ground by going 8-6-6-8-6.
Season 3
Having come agonizingly close the previous season, the U.S. SailGP Team claimed its first event win by beating out New Zealand and Great Britain in the Final in Saint-Tropez.
A crew which included current members Campbell, Hans Henken and Mac Agnese - stepping in as Cooper Dressler was unavailable - was never out of the top three as the fleet races progressed, going 3-2-3-1 to qualify for another Final.
Heavy wind prompted fast racing and a new F50 class speed record was set several times during racing with the hosts France clinching the final record of 99.94km/hr - only recently surpassed by ROCKWOOL Denmark in Sassnitz in Season 5.
The U.S. SailGP Team celebrates its win in Saint-Tropez in Season 3
It was a weekend of two halves as light winds on Day 2 meant only one race was completed within the 14-minute time limit. Race 4 was terminated early and Race 5 abandoned completely.
The Kiwis, led by Peter Burling, paid a hefty price for a startline penalty and the U.S. SailGP Team took full advantage to get out in front and claim its first SailGP event win.
“This is a long time coming and it feels fantastic,” Spithill said after clinching the win. “It’s a sign of strength for the team to get out there yesterday and then again today in completely different conditions.
“Being in the lead is very difficult. It’s not clear where to go and things change so quickly.”
Season 4
A near miss and a victory so far in Saint-Tropez - could the U.S. SailGP Team continue to build on that momentum in Season 4?
A capsize in practice threatened to sink U.S. hopes before racing had even begun. Fortunately, no one was injured, and driver Spithill later remarked: “We were all commenting after that it was probably the softest, slow-motion capsize any of us had ever done.
“We pulled the boat up, and all good – there was no damage. We couldn’t see [the breeze on the water] being so close to the sea wall and just got caught out by a big puff and tipped over.”
The U.S. SailGP Team tipped over in practice ahead of Season 4's event in Saint-Tropez
Able to compete, the U.S. SailGP Team went 9-3-1-8-7 in light wind but narrowly missed out on a place in the Final which was contested by Emirates GBR, Spain and Australia.
Elsewhere, the drama continued with dramatic collisions between Spain and NorthStar Canada on Day 2 before New Zealand’s 29 meter wing collapsed just meters from the shoreline at the end of the day. Again, thankfully, nobody was hurt.
It looked as though eventual season Champions Australia would claim the event but Emirates GBR dramatically pipped Tom Slingsby and co. at the last moment with a perfectly timed overtake – Great Britain’s first event win since Season 2.
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