The countdown to SailGP Portsmouth 2025 is on
SailGP Portsmouth 2025 promises a thrilling return to British waters, with the Emirates GBR team hosting a high-stakes home race. The F50 fleet will clash on the Solent next weekend, over 19th to 20th July, delivering fast-paced action metres from shore. Veteran helm Giles Scott leads the British charge, aiming to convert home advantage into points. The tight Solent course, known for shifty breezes and strong tide, ensures tactical racing. A full race village on Southsea Common adds to the spectacle, while legacy initiatives involving local youth showcase SailGP’s wider impact. All eyes are now on Portsmouth for a defining weekend in Season 4.
Racing takes place between 4pm and 5.30pm BST (3am–4.30am NZT, an early start for those of us who like to watch it live from New Zealand), with grandstand and water-based viewing options on offer. Fans can expect high-speed foiling with boats hitting over 90km/h. The stadium-style racecourse near Old Portsmouth and Southsea Castle gives spectators unmatched access to one of the season’s most anticipated events.
“Push the F50s hard”: Tight course, tough conditions, and local pressure
Former Olympian and SailGP commentator Stevie Morrison calls the Solent a “real sailor’s racecourse.” With swirling tide, choppy seas, and wind shifts around 26 km/h expected, the narrow waterway will offer overtaking lanes and punishment for teams that get it wrong. “It’s going to take all the skills of handling the boat, maximising the speed, and tactically overtaking,” Morrison said.
The course may be tight, but the pressure is high. Emirates GBR sits fourth overall on 41 points, just 3 points behind Peter Burling’s New Zealand team and within striking distance of the lead. Spain currently tops the leaderboard with 46 points, followed closely by Tom Slingsby’s BONDS Flying Roos on 45 points. With only five points separating the top four, SailGP Portsmouth 2025 could shake up the standings significantly.
Portsmouth also brings back memories of chaos. Season 1’s visit to nearby Cowes was marked by big winds, capsizes, and cautious crews backing off from full throttle. That’s unlikely to be the case now, with 12 seasoned teams and more confidence to push the F50s harder. As Morrison puts it: “We’re going to see serious action off the front in Portsmouth.”
The start that makes or breaks a race
SailGP+ insider Phil Robertson, a four-season veteran of the fleet, believes the start is the most crucial phase of the race. “If you get around Mark 1 in the top three, you’re probably going to stay in the top three,” he says. With 12 boats jostling for space and manoeuvring at closing speeds over 50 knots, securing a good position before the gun is everything.
Robertson describes four key starting positions and a series of strategic calculations — from “time to kill” to acceleration ratios — that make the final 30 seconds of each race a tactical minefield. Some teams, like France under Quentin Delapierre, favour risky slingshot starts. Others, like the Australians, rely on consistency (catastrophic for them when they’re not!) and communication. In lighter breeze, the start becomes even more decisive, and Portsmouth’s tight boundaries only amplify that pressure.
Finals are different again. With just three boats and limited space, speed and timing are everything. “You want to be at full speed with 0.2 seconds past the gun,” Robertson explains. “Anything less and you’re toast.”
SailGP Portsmouth race weekend returns to the UK with high-speed thrills on the solent
Boating New Zealand’s coverage
Although broadcasts will run via Sky Sport in New Zealand, the SailGP app, YouTube, and global channels, Boating New Zealand will be following the racing live and reporting on each race as it unfolds. Watch our social media channels and find our articles here at https://www.boatingnz.co.nz/sailgp/ for updates.
As the fleet eyes crucial championship points and Emirates GBR aims for a breakthrough performance in front of a home crowd, the scene is set for one of the most exciting events of the season.
