5 Things You Need To Know About The Sydney Sail Grand Prix
Everything you need to know to get ready for this weekend’s racing Down Under
Published 02/26/2026
Hot on the heels of the New Zealand Sail Grand Prix comes the KPMG Sydney Sail Grand Prix – bringing to a close the first leg of the 2026 Season.
This is the third of three events in Oceania before the SailGP fleet heads to the Americas for the first-ever South American event in Rio de Janẽiro, Brazil.
But before that, here’s everything you’re going to need to know for Sydney…
1. Fleet reduced to 11 teams after Auckland collision
Unsurprisingly, New Zealand Black Foils and DS Automobiles France have been ruled out of this event after the damage sustained in their collision in Auckland a fortnight ago.
Both teams’ F50s suffered significant damage and the timelines for two major repairs were never going to be realistic for the hard-working SailGP Technologies teams.
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It means we’ll have a reduced fleet of 11 boats on the startline in the Emerald City – how will that impact racing?
2. Aussies’ strong home record
The U.S. SailGP Team and Australia do battle in front of the Sydney Opera House in 2023
Tom Slingsby’s crew bagged their first event win in a year last time out in Auckland. They’ll be hoping the wait for their next triumph isn’t so long – and they have good reason to believe it won’t be.
Sydney has been on the SailGP calendar in each of its five previous seasons and the BONDS Flying Roos have won three of those events, in 2019, 2022 and 2024. The other two teams to win on Australia’s East Coast are France and Emirates GBR.
Having got back to winning ways last time out, the Roos will be looking to capitalize on a passionate home crowd to extend their excellent record in Sydney Harbor and claim back-to-back event wins in 2026.
3. Sydney visit earlier than usual - what will conditions bring?
Although Sydney has been a stalwart of the SailGP calendar, this event provides a new wrinkle as it will be the peak of the Australian summer.
U.S. SailGP Team strategist Andrew Campbell says: “Sydney is always a fantastic venue. Shark Island being in the middle of the racetrack is always a complicated factor. We’ve seen classic northeastern sea breezes there that are just a great version of that place. The southeast one can be pretty wild as well.
“We haven’t been to that venue this late in the season before. It’s quite late in the summer, and that may change things. We’re usually there earlier in February. But we’re prepared for whatever comes at us.
“We’re not afraid of any condition. We’re ready to go out and apply our racing ability to any racetrack we get onto. We’re capable of racing and doing well no matter what, and we hold ourselves to that standard.”
4. Return of the Mac!
After missing the ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix in Auckland for the birth of his daughter, U.S. SailGP Team grinder Mac Agnese rejoins the Crew for the trip to Australia’s East Coast – and he’ll have a brand-new supporter back home.
Congratulations to Mac and Graceann on your new arrival!
5. 50 up for Tom Slingsby
BONDS Flying Roos driver Tom Slingsby with the winners' wheel from Auckland
Home events are always special but this should be an extra-special occasion for Tom Slingsby, driver and CEO of the BONDS Flying Roos.
That’s because the Aussie sailing legend - a gold medalist in the Laser class at the 2012 London Olympic Games - made his 50th appearance as the team’s driver in Auckland a fortnight ago.
The 41-year-old has more appearances in SailGP history than any other driver, with ROCKWOOL Denmark’s Nicolai Sehested in 2nd place on 44.
Congratulations, Tom!
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