Answering The Most-Searched SailGP Questions
Take a crash course in the basics of SailGP with Google’s most-asked questions…
Published 10/28/2025
SailGP is unlike any other class of sailing with its fast, frenetic races making for spectacular and dramatic viewing.
But it is also a relatively new sport, so we’re answering the most-asked questions about SailGP on Google to help fans of the sport – new or established!
What kind of boats are used in SailGP?
SailGP uses identical F50 catamarans for each team in the 12-strong international fleet, each owned by the league itself. The F stands for foiling, and the 50 is the length of each vessel in feet.
The boats are unique to SailGP and were adapted from the AC50s previously used in the America’s Cup, with SailGP purchasing and then modifying a number of these boats at the league’s outset.
How do the F50 catamarans work?
Underwater hydrofoils - which are the length of surf boards and made of lightweight titanium and carbon fiber - lift the boat out of the water to reduce drag. The less drag, the more speed.
In tandem with the foils, the F50 utilizes a huge airplane-like ‘wing’ sail. This rigid, modular wing is operated mechanically and comes in three sizes (18m, 24m, 29m). Teams use the biggest sail when there’s not much wind and the smallest when there’s lots.
Why are all the boats identical?
The 12 F50s are single design and therefore, unlike many other sports, SailGP is decided by the skills of the athletes on board, rather than who has the biggest budget. The league owns and maintains all the boats which are dismantled between races and shipped to the next destination.
EXPLAINED: THE TECHNOLOGY BEHIND THE F50
SailGP is continually innovating; pushing the boundaries of technology to make the boats faster, while ensuring they are only as good as the crew on board and their strategies and tactics.
What is the racing format?
Each SailGP event consists of seven Fleet Races - high-intensity races with a 16-minute limit.
There are four Fleet Races on Day One and three on Day Two. The top three teams on points after the Fleet Races qualify for a winner-takes-all Final, with $400,000 in prize money on offer for the victorious team.
How does scoring work?
The winner of each race gets 10 event points
Winning a Fleet Race is worth 10 points with each place thereafter getting one point fewer down to 10th. There are no points for finishing 11th or 12th.
The same scoring system applies to the overall event, with the winner collecting 10 points to put towards their Rolex SailGP Championship total. At the end of the season, the top three teams contest the Grand Final.
The Grand Final is a single winner-takes-all event with $2million up for grabs.
How do you know who is winning?
At events, spectators take advantage of large screens in the grandstand and official broadcast commentary.
Races are also broadcast globally across a number of partners dependent on the region, while the U.S. SailGP Team has an interactive live blog running throughout each event on its App – and coverage across its social media channels.
Where can I watch a race?
In the United States, each race event is broadcast on CBS for Season Five of SailGP.
HOW TO WATCH SAILGP
You can stream via the official SailGP App and on the SailGP YouTube Channel, too, where you’ll also find replays, highlights, race data, stats and more.
What happens if the weather is bad?
SailGP is held come rain or shine – and there’s been plenty of both!
However, athlete safety is of paramount importance and mother nature has an impact on whether racing can safely go ahead.
It is therefore the responsibility of the Race Committee to decide whether teams will race if there is a safety issue to consider. Too much wind is dangerous, while lightning poses a risk, too. Marine wildlife is also a factor.
Is SailGP easy for new fans to understand?
SailGP is designed to be accessible and easy to follow, whether you’re a seasoned sailor or someone just getting into the sport!
Global commentary team Todd Harris, Stevie Morrison and Hannah Diamond make sure to explain the basics, as well as some of the more technical aspects during their coverage.
There is also an education section in the U.S. SailGP Team App, designed to break the sport down.
Are the teams different from each other?
There are currently 12 international teams with a 13th team - Artemis, representing Sweden - set to join the fleet in 2026. A 14th team is slated for 2027.
While the F50s are identical, the teams are different. New teams are allowed to build their rosters with the best talent regardless of nationality, but each year a team is in SailGP, they lose an international spot.
For example, the U.S. SailGP Team currently has an all-American crew, having been founding members of SailGP since 2019.
As well as this, teams can use democratized data supplied by SailGP to decide their strategies and tactics, while also utilizing athletes in different ways. Each team must have one female athlete and the majority of teams deploy their female team member as a Strategist – an important tactical role at the back of the boat.
The U.S. SailGP Team has the only female grinder in the league – Olympian Anna Weis, who is charged with powering the hydraulic ram that controls the enormous wing.
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