Emirates Great Britain SailGP Team have clinched the coveted trophy for the second consecutive year, proving once again that they’re not just fierce on the racecourse, they’re leading the charge for positive change off it too.
SailGP’s Impact League is a season-long competition that rewards teams for taking action to protect the planet and make sailing more inclusive.
Emirates GBR’s consistency across all four Focus Areas sealed the deal in a season that featured 48 project submissions, 20 judges and 114 hours of scoring.
The team delivered podium performances in the Race to Zero Waste, Accelerating Inclusion, Climate Action and Breaking Boundaries categories, showcasing an all-round commitment to driving real impact across every stop of the global championship.
Their work throughout the season delivered standout results: expanding their Young Development programme, supporting athlete Kai Hockley into a full-time role; delivering inclusion-focused education with the 1851 Trust; and providing 350+ hours of on-water training for underrepresented youth sailors.
The team also slashed waste by reusing and rebranding kit, engaged 250,000 young people in climate education with Goodwall, and continued producing clean power at events through purpose partner Low Carbon’s portable solar installation.
“I’m so proud of the team for winning the Impact League for the second year running,” said Sir Ben Ainslie, Emirates GBR CEO and co-owner.
“Each season, the team puts an incredible amount of effort into delivering projects that can make a real difference and this year we’ve had some big results. We’ve expanded our partnership with the Greig City Academy in north London to get more students into the marine industry, put on foiling academies in Weymouth for people of all abilities, and partnered with Goodwall and the 1851 Trust to educate young people on STEM and climate change. As a team, we want to make positive impacts both on and off the water, and the back-to-back Impact League win is a testament to this.”
SailGP Chief Purpose Officer Fiona Morgan added, “What an achievement for the Emirates Great Britain SailGP Team winning the Impact League for the second year running – a standout example of their long-term commitment and passion across the team to drive meaningful change. Their consistency and leadership set a powerful example of what’s possible when purpose and performance go hand in hand.”
Emirates GBR sit in pole position heading into the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Sail Grand Prix 2025 Season Grand Final, presented by Abu Dhabi Sports Council. They could become the first team ever to win both the SailGP Championship and Impact League in the same season.
The feel-good stories didn’t stop there. Mubadala Brazil, competing in their first Impact League season and led by the championship’s first-ever female driver, Martine Grael, stormed into an impressive second place.
Their restoration work on Rio’s Pombeba Island and climate initiatives across the city’s favelas turned heads – and their win in the Breaking Boundaries Focus Area, powered by a 50% female-led offshore leadership team and a new female foiling clinic, proved Brazil are here to make waves.
NorthStar SailGP Team also shone, finishing on the podium in three Focus Areas and taking top spot in Climate Action after planting 2,000 eelgrass shoots in Halifax alongside local youth sailors and scientists. Judges praised the team for their targeted, community-driven approach to impact.
Article originally published by SailGP Media
