League momentum builds on and off the water
It’s mid-season in SailGP’s fifth year, and the press conference for the Emirates Great Britain Sail Grand Prix in Portsmouth served as a reminder that this league is growing faster than anyone predicted. With 20,000 fans expected on shore and new teams set to join in 2026, SailGP is beginning to feel more like Formula 1 — on foils.
Sir Russell Coutts, SailGP co-founder, confirmed that two new boats (hulls 13 and 14) are already in build at SailGP Technologies in Warkworth, UK. Both are expected to be completed in time for the opening of Season 6, with the final fit-out of electronics and hydraulics now underway.
“Boat 13’s hulls and crossbeams were just getting connected yesterday,” Coutts said. “Boat 14 is about four weeks behind that.”
He declined to confirm which nations or ownership groups were behind the expansion teams, but hinted they would be announced ahead of the 2026 opener.
Private investment reshaping the fleet
While new teams prepare to enter, others are evolving behind the scenes. Emirates GBR revealed a new addition to its talent pipeline — young British sailor Kai Hawkley — who joins via the Athena Pathway development programme. Co-owner and skipper Sir Ben Ainslie said demand for top athletes is rising rapidly across all roles.
The pressure is also building to transition remaining league-owned teams, including New Zealand’s Black Foils, into private hands.
Peter Burling addressed the topic candidly, noting that securing new partners is a key priority for the team.
“There’s always a sense of urgency,” Burling said. “We’re just trying to make sure we’re working hard to capitalise on getting some new partners on board.”
While other teams have already made the shift — including Australia, now co-owned by actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney — the Black Foils remain one of the few teams still fully backed by the league.
“We’re 100% focused on growing the Black Foils,” Burling added. “It’s something we’re incredibly passionate about.”
SailGP’s growing appeal
Burling wasn’t alone in praising the league’s progress. Hannah Mills, strategist for Emirates GBR, described SailGP as the most exciting thing happening in professional sailing today.
“The teams are growing, the events are growing, the sponsors are coming in… it’s an incredible place to be,” she said.
“As a female sailor, I feel a responsibility for the next generation… It’s definitely my ambition to be part of setting up a team.”
Meanwhile, Tom Slingsby — now co-owner of the rebranded Bonds Flying Roos — said SailGP’s storytelling potential is just starting to be tapped. His new backers, Reynolds and McElhenney, are expected to bring a new level of visibility to the league through digital content, docuseries, and fan engagement tools.
Leaderboard tightening ahead of Abu Dhabi
On the water, the championship has rarely been this close. Just 10 points separate the top six teams, with Spain, Australia, and New Zealand sitting near the top. Burling acknowledged the importance of consistency in a league where fortunes can shift by the minute.
“You’ve got to keep learning and improving — otherwise you’ll get left behind,” he said.
“To win, you’ve got to make the top three and then win the final.”
With racing moving toward the Abu Dhabi Grand Final, every race now matters — not just for points, but for confidence and momentum.
What comes next for the Black Foils?
As the team’s CEO, Burling is steering the Black Foils through a delicate phase of growth. That includes fronting commercial partnerships, maintaining race performance, and managing long-term strategy — all while juggling Olympic and offshore sailing commitments.
But he remains clear-eyed about what SailGP represents: not just a championship, but a global platform for sailing innovation.
“The way SailGP is facilitating the growth of the sport — we’re excited to keep building on that,” he said.
With the leaderboard tightening, new teams arriving, and ownership structures shifting, SailGP enters its second half with more at stake than ever. For Burling and the Black Foils, the next few events will be as much about shaping the team’s future as chasing the championship trophy.
