5 Things You Need To Know About Perth
Get the lowdown ahead of the season opener Down Under!
Published 01/13/2026
The 2026 SailGP Season starts with a new host city as the fleet heads Down Under for the first Oracle Perth Sail Grand Prix.
The slate is wiped clean as the teams go head-to-head for the right to be crowned Rolex SailGP Championship winners over the next 12 months, across 13 high-speed events at iconic waterside destinations.
Here’s everything you need to know about Event No.1…
Lucky No.13
The continual growth of the fleet is testament to the success of SailGP and, in 2026, there will be more teams on the start line than ever before.
Artemis SailGP Team, representing Sweden, joins the fleet and has wasted no time assembling a talent-packed roster.
Nathan Outteridge (left) has returned to SailGP as the driver Artemis SailGP Team
Former Japan, Switzerland and New Zealand Black Foils driver Nathan Outteridge leads the league’s new side. An Olympic gold medalist, Outteridge is no stranger to SailGP and has been reunited with former teammates Chris Draper and Andy Maloney, who join from BONDS Flying Roos and Mubadala Brazil, respectively.
Homegrown talent is equally important to Artemis, with Julia Gross signing on as strategist from Red Bull Italy, while Julius Hallström swaps Nordic rivals ROCKWOOL Denmark for his homeland.
Clearly, the Swedes are here to compete!
U.S. SailGP Team Locks In With Consistent Roster
While a number of teams have been making full use of the newly introduced Athlete Transfer Framework, the U.S. SailGP Team doubled down on its own talented young roster for 2026.
Harry Melges IV joined the Crew prior to the Abu Dhabi Grand Final in November but otherwise, the squad remains unchanged for the 2026 Season after a strong end to the campaign.
For several members of the team, their association goes all the way back to Season 1 – including grinder Mac Agnese, flight controller Hans Henken and driver Taylor Canfield.
Tightest Season Yet?
That's the verdict of SailGP’s CEO and Co-Founder Sir Russell Coutts, America’s Cup legend.
The aforementioned Artemis SailGP Team has made a statement with its recruitment and the fleet’s leading teams have only become stronger during the short off-season.
“With eight different teams winning events last season, it’s already extremely competitive,” Coutts said. “With Artemis SailGP Team joining, I’d expect them to be fighting for podiums straight away given the talent they’ve assembled.
“We’ve also seen some key crew changes, even among the top teams, which will mix things up,” Coutts added. “Teams like ROCKWOOL Racing and Germany by Deutsche Bank finished last season very strongly across very different conditions, and that’s impressive. Overall, it’s shaping up to be a very competitive year.”
Can Roos Bounce Back On Home Waters?
Three-time SailGP Champions the BONDS Flying Roos came agonisingly close to claiming their fourth title in Abu Dhabi in November, only to be pipped by a sensational maneuver from Emirates GBR in Leg 4.
The BONDS Flying Roos' will be looking to put on a show in front of their supporters
Tom Slingsby’s crew will undoubtedly use that as motivation in 2026 and where better to start than in front of what’s sure to be a big, boisterous home crowd?
The Roos’ last event win came in Auckland almost a year ago to the day – January 19, 2025. Are the stars aligning for the hometown favorites to start the season with a bang?
Conditions Promise Excitement
After finishing the season with light air conditions in Abu Dhabi, expect something altogether different Down Under.
Conditions in Perth are expected to be much windier across the weekend - though the sun will still be out as Australia enjoys its summer - and that should lend itself to high-octane racing across seven fleet races.
Beware the Fremantle Doctor wind – known for providing a refreshing southwesterly sea breeze across Perth and Australia’s southwest coast during hot summers. It provides relief by bringing in cool air from the Indian Ocean, typically arriving between 12-3pm local time.
High-speed racing means one thing – lots more drama on the water!
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