5 Things You Need To Know About Portsmouth
The European leg of the SailGP season gets underway in Portsmouth this weekend – here are five things you need to know…
Published 07/15/2025
The Emirates Great Britain Sail Grand Prix marks the start of the European leg of the SailGP season, as the U.S. SailGP Team returns to action in Portsmouth.
It’s a brand-new venue for SailGP with previous editions of the British Grand Prix taking place in Plymouth and Cowes, off the Isle of Wight.
Here’s everything you need to know ahead of this weekend’s action on the Solent…
Britain’s most important port city
Host city Portsmouth holds great significance in Great Britain as a historic port city. It’s out of Portsmouth that His Majesty’s Navy is based, with two-thirds of the fleet contained there.
Portsmouth is the oldest Royal Navy base and the city is famous for some of Britain's most historic ships and vessels. One of those is the Mary Rose – a survivor of King Henry VIII’s fleet from the 16th Century.
The historic dockyard is open to the public and as well as the Mary Rose, visitors can see HMS Victory and HMS Warrior, two slightly more modern ships from Royal Naval history.
Tricky conditions expected on the Solent
Conditions in New York last month were far from ideal – and the fleet should expect the unexpected once more in Hampshire.
Grinder Mac Agnese has sailed here before and expects to be tested.
He said: “It was really windy. There’s always a lot of current there, and it was still early days for all of us on the F50s. I remember it got so windy that no one wanted to bear away and head back down toward the starting line.
“I think we can expect similar conditions for at least one of the days this year. It’s a tough racecourse – breezy, strong tides, and the way everything stacks up, it can get pretty gnarly. I’d say it’s a pretty unique venue.”
Menninger on board for the first time
Having linked up with his new U.S. SailGP crew-mates for the New York Sail Grand Prix last month, Michael Menninger will make his long-awaited debut for the team in the UK.
A veteran of the 37th America’s Cup in 2024, Menninger took a step back in the Big Apple and watched the racing unfold from the coach’s booth as he got acclimated with SailGP.
He is excited to get out on the F50 for the first time, and recently said: “These boats are brutal. The racing is fast and unforgiving. The best teams race fearlessly and push the boats to the limit. I hope I can help instill that mindset – racing hard, staying focused, and working together as a tight unit.
“The goal is to break things down into small, achievable steps and build a strong foundation. Treat each other well, keep improving, and just go out there and sail the boat hard.”
Can Spain make it three in a row?
Prior to the New York Sail Grand Prix, no team had won more than a single event in Season Five. But Los Gallos changed all that on the Hudson, pipping New Zealand and France in Sunday’s Final.
Victory made it an American double for Diego Botín and his crew, after claiming their first triumph of the season on the West Coast in San Francisco. So, can they make it three successive victories in 2025?
In Season Four, no team won more than two consecutive events – something achieved by Emirates Great Britain and New Zealand. A third straight win for Spain would be a remarkable achievement.
First-class entertainment in the Race Stadium
There won’t just be enthralling action on the water across the weekend in Portsmouth – there’s plenty going on off it as well!
Fans attending the Race Stadium will be able to enjoy F50 simulators, allowing you to step into the driver’s seat and test your sailing skills. There’ll also be performances from Tom Grennan (Saturday) and Peter Tong (Sunday) following the day’s racing.
Big screens and live commentary mean you won’t miss a second of the action on the Solent, while locally inspired food and drink will be available to purchase.
The Race Stadium opens from 2pm BST on both days, until 7pm.
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