Sweden steps back onto the global stage
The SailGP fleet will have a new look in 2026. At a press conference in Geneva on 19 September 2025, SailGP CEO Russell Coutts confirmed that Sweden’s Artemis SailGP Team will join the league as its 13th entry. The announcement ended months of speculation and brought one of sailing’s most respected names back into the spotlight.
Artemis will be led by Olympic gold medallist and America’s Cup veteran Iain Percy, working alongside team owner Torbjörn Törnqvist. Their vision is to reignite Sweden’s proud sailing tradition in one of the sport’s fastest, most competitive arenas.
At the heart of the campaign is Nathan Outteridge, appointed as driver. Outteridge, who lifted the America’s Cup with Emirates Team New Zealand in 2024, is no stranger to SailGP. Outteridge steered Japan SailGP Team to success in the league’s opening two seasons, as well as making a cameo for Danish team ROCKWOOL Racing in Season 4.
“I’m excited to be back for next season,” Outteridge said. “We’re here to compete against the best. The great thing about SailGP is that all the boats are identical — it’s all about the team and how you approach racing. If we put the right team together, I’m confident we can compete at the front.”
Legacy, ambition, and fresh purpose
Artemis Racing has always been known for its technical edge and competitive spirit. The team campaigned in the America’s Cup in 2013 and 2017, and its culture of innovation remains a central theme. For Percy, SailGP offers the perfect stage to continue that story.
“I’m proud to lead Artemis SailGP Team as we return to the global stage with a clear focus — leveraging cutting-edge technology, a world-class line-up, and the hard-won lessons from America’s Cup,” Percy told the Geneva audience.
Coutts echoed the significance of Sweden’s return. “After five seasons, we’re proud to announce a team that brings remarkable depth of talent — one whose experience and professionalism will elevate this championship.”
With Artemis confirmed, the team is expected to make an immediate impact when SailGP’s sixth season opens in Perth in January 2026.
Expansion and the race for the 14th team
The Artemis announcement comes during SailGP’s biggest growth phase yet. Coutts confirmed earlier this year that the league will expand from 12 to 14 teams in 2026, with Deloitte managing a highly competitive tender process. By mid-July, around 15 bidders were still in play.
Rumours have swirled around possible new entries, with Argentina, Mexico, China, the UAE, and Ireland all linked to the vacant slots. Artemis was among the favourites from the start; now attention shifts firmly to the 14th team. Two new F50s are already under construction at SailGP’s £10 million Southampton facility to ensure both new squads will be race-ready for Perth.
Paddock reaction: respect and caution
News of Artemis’ return rippled quickly through the SailGP paddock. Switzerland’s Sebastian Schneider was among the first to react: “I think they’ll be right up there. I’ve heard some rumours, and I think their team is going to be strong from the start, but we’ll see how it unfolds.”
Others turned to the bigger picture. France’s Contan observed: “Sailing with 12 boats this season has been close, so I can’t imagine with 14 boats. It’s probably a good idea to split the fleets during training and see how it goes.”
The overall reaction suggests that Artemis will not be treated as an outsider. Instead, they are expected to raise the bar from the outset.
What Artemis means for SailGP’s future
For SailGP, Artemis’ entry is more than a new name on the start line. It underlines the league’s rapid transformation from an experimental concept into a global sports property.
The wave of celebrity investment in 2025 — Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman in Australia, Anne Hathaway in Italy, and Kylian Mbappé in France — showed the league’s commercial appeal. Now, Artemis’ return, backed by Törnqvist’s resources and Percy’s leadership, signals that traditional sailing powerhouses still see SailGP as a frontier worth conquering.
As Percy noted, Sweden’s involvement is also about the next generation. “Sweden, particularly on the female front, has an immense talent pool,” he said, stressing the importance of developing new pathways for young sailors.
For Outteridge, it is a chance to re-establish himself as one of SailGP’s top helmsmen. For SailGP, it is a statement of momentum. With Artemis preparing for Perth 2026, the only question left is: who will claim the final 14th team spot?
