The Ultimate Guide to SailGP: Everything You Need to Know
New to SailGP? Here is everything you've ever wondered – and more – about your new favorite sport...
Published 06/24/2025
So you've decided to start watching SailGP: Good decision.
Welcome to the most thrilling, exhilarating and fast-paced sport on water. Think you know sailing? Forget it, SailGP is something entirely different. Known as the F1 of sailing for a reason, the F50 catamarans raced by the fleet regularly exceed 60 mph.
SailGP is different from every other class of sailing and as a relatively new sport, there’s a lot to learn. Here is everything you need to know…
When was SailGP launched?
SailGP was launched on October 3, 2018 by Oracle Co-founder Larry Ellison and Olympic gold medalist and three-time America’s Cup winner Russell Coutts. Their objective was to redefine sailing with the launch of a new global racing league.
The first season of SailGP, which began in February 2019, featured just six national teams competing in five global events. The fleet and the calendar have grown since then but one thing remains the same. The teams all compete with identical wingsailed F50s, the fastest and most technologically advanced catamarans in the world.
Competing in the first season of SailGP were Australia, China, France, Great Britain and the U.S. SailGP Team, with the two highest-placed teams meeting the Grand Final for a $1million prize pot. Australia were the first SailGP winners.
What is an F50?
An F50 is the 50-foot catamaran sailed by each team in SailGP. The boats are modeled on the AC50s used in the 35th America’s Cup in 2017 but have been re-designed to be lighter and faster.
SailGP acquired and modified three of these vessels for Season One while building another three from scratch.
The F50s are designed to fly above the water - known as foiling - using carbon fiber hydrofoils that protrude from the hulls. Using these, the F50s regularly reach speeds of 60mph (100kph).
CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE TECHNOLOGY BEHIND THE F50
What are the key terms of SailGP?
As with any new sport, there’s a whole language associated with a wide range of new terminology to get you started.
Some aspects of the F50 are essentially the same as on a more traditional sailing boat:
Jib – The smaller sail at the front of the boat, used to assist with balance and maneuverability.
Wing Sail – A rigid sail that resembles an airplane wing, providing more efficient power than traditional sails.
Others, though, are more specific to the F50:
Hydrofoil (Foil) – The wing-like structures beneath the boat that lift it out of the water when the speed increases.
T-foils – The shape of the hydrofoils that resemble a “T” when viewed from the side, providing lift and stability.
CLICK HERE FOR A FULL GLOSSARY OF KEY SAILGP TERMS
Who makes up a SailGP crew?
A SailGP crew is made up of six athletes. From back to front, these are:
Strategist: Positioned behind the Driver, the Strategist reads the wind conditions, competitors’ moves, and suggests the best course.
Driver: The person steering the boat, usually making tactical decisions.
Wing Trimmer: Controls the wing sail, adjusting its angle to optimize speed and balance.
Flight Controller: Responsible for adjusting the foils to maintain stable flight. They work closely with the Driver and Wing Trimmer.
Grinder (x2): Positioned at the front of the boat with one facing forwards and one facing backwards. These crew members power the boat’s systems by manually turning a grinder pedestal.
Click on each role to learn more about it.
However, in light-wind conditions where the F50s may struggle to foil and therefore go at speed, SailGP mandates that teams reduce their crew size, in turn reducing the load on the F50.
What kit do the crews carry in SailGP?
As well as preparing for all weathers, a SailGP team carries vital equipment with the safety of each crew member of paramount importance.
Therefore, each athlete will wear an impact vest/buoyancy aid while being harnessed to the F50. Everybody carries two knives - one for cutting ropes and the other for netting -as well as a personal air supply for underwater breathing.
The F50 is also equipped with safety kit for use in the event of an emergency.
During race weekends there are always Safety Boats on hand to assist in any moments of distress. Thankfully, these are not common occurrences.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ABOUT SAILGP KIT
What does the Head Coach do in SailGP?
It’s not just the athletes on the water who are responsible for performance across a SailGP weekend - there is a Head Coach back on dry land, armed with an array of data and screens to monitor performance.
SailGP owns the F50s sailed by the teams and these are packed down and shipped around the globe between races. Therefore, Head Coaches will drill down into the in-depth data available to them.
Each F50 has thousands of data points and this data is shared freely across the fleet to keep SailGP as competitive as possible.
CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ROLE OF THE HEAD COACH
The U.S. SailGP Team finished third in Dubai in event one of Season Five
How do you win in SailGP?
Each SailGP race is made up of six or seven fleet races, split over two days, with teams collecting between one and 10 points based on their finishing position in each race.
There are now 12 nations in SailGP - with two more slated for entry in Season Six - meaning races are fast and furious, lasting roughly 15 minutes and with a quick turnaround between each.
The Sunday Grand Final is contested between the three highest-placed teams across the weekend. At the end of the weekend, seasonal points are allocated based on the final standings, taking into account the 1-2-3 Final result.
At the season’s end, the Grand Final takes place in the final destination on the SailGP calendar. Five (or six) fleet races take place as usual with the top three teams from the season leaderboard contesting the Grand Final to decide the Championship!
But beware, you can also lose points…
Melanie Roberts is part of the SailGP Race Management team at events
What are the rules of SailGP?
Penalty points are awarded by the Chief Umpire throughout SailGP events to ensure racing remains fair and equal for each of the 12 competing teams. These rules are designed to prevent contact - whether accidental or otherwise - and promote safe racing.
Collision
Boat responsible - four points
Boat involved - minimum two points (if it was possible for them to avoid)
Collision causing damage
Damage: Tech team needed to review and repair
Boat responsible - eight points
Boat involved - minimum four points (if it was possible for them to avoid)
Collision causing serious damage
Serious damage: Taken out of racing for the day
Boat responsible - 12 points
Boat involved - minimum six points (if it was possible for them to avoid)
Event point deductions then translate to seasonal penalties as follows:
4 event points = 2 season points deducted
5-8 event points = 4 season points deducted
9-12 event points = 8 season points deducted
13+ event points = 12 season points deducted
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