SailGP Sets New U.S. Sailing Viewership Record
More than 3.4 million tune in to CBS for SailGP’s ‘Race to Abu Dhabi’ broadcast
Published 12/1/2025
SailGP has established a new benchmark for sailing viewership in the United States, delivering the most watched sailing race broadcast in American history.
The Race to Abu Dhabi, which aired on CBS on Sunday, November 23, drew more than 3.469 million viewers (Nielsen), surpassing the previous record of 3.266 million set during the 1992 America’s Cup on ABC.
The hour-long program recapped the 2025 SailGP Season and set the stage for last weekend’s Mubadala Abu Dhabi Sail Grand Prix Grand Final, presented by Abu Dhabi Sports Council and won by Emirates GBR.
Highlights from a dramatic fifth season of SailGP were featured, including the U.S. SailGP Team’s podium finish in Dubai, ROCKWOOL Denmark’s 103 km/hr SailGP speed record and many more unforgettable high-speed moments.
Sir Russell Coutts, co-founder and CEO of SailGP, said: “Setting this new U.S. viewership record is an extraordinary milestone for SailGP and a testament to the momentum this league has built both in the United States and around the world.
“Reaching more than 3.4 million viewers on a national broadcast network underscores what we’ve believed from day one – that high-octane, nation-vs-nation racing has mainstream appeal.
“As we head into the Grand Final in Abu Dhabi, we’re excited to see so many new fans joining us and can’t wait to further showcase more fantastic racing in what’s proving to be our most successful and competitive season yet.”
CBS Sports has been home to the global racing championship in the U.S. since 2019, and this season is showing a record 54 hours of coverage across its platforms. The final CBS broadcast of the season will be a Grand Final results show on December 27 from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. ET.
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