Fremantle, Western Australia, made its debut as a host city for the international Sail Grand Prix from January 17-18, marking the opening of the 2026 Rolex SailGP Championship season. The event featured 12 international teams competing in 50-foot foiling catamarans capable of reaching speeds up to 100 kilometers per hour. Great Britain ultimately secured victory in the two-day competition, with Australia finishing second and France placing third.
Event Overview and Preparations
The Sail Grand Prix, described as a Formula 1-style sailing event, attracted approximately 15,000 spectators to Bathers Beach and purpose-built grandstands, with an estimated 20 million viewers tuning into the live broadcast. Fremantle Mayor Ben Lawver noted the city's connection to sailing, referencing a three-year sponsorship deal for the event. The racing took place off Bathers Beach, with strong local winds, known as the "Fremantle Doctor," influencing race conditions.
Ahead of the event, the Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure (DTMI) conducted detailed three-dimensional mapping of the seabed off Fremantle. This process integrated hydrographic sonar data with drone-captured high-resolution laser scan (LiDAR) data to create a comprehensive 3-D computer model. This model identified known areas of concern, including underwater piles from the original Fremantle Long Jetty and depths around breakwaters at South Mole and Challenger Boat Harbour, enhancing safety for competitors and contributing to the area's nautical chart. DTMI also collaborated with SailGP organizers on logistics, including access points for viewing areas, housing for support vessels, and crowd management plans.
Local infrastructure adjustments included road closures on parts of North Mole Drive, Cliff Street, and Fleet Street. Fremantle Ports advised an amended exit route for boats leaving the harbor during race times.
Pre-Race Incidents and Team Adjustments
Leading up to the competition, several teams experienced incidents:
- Team Spain withdrew from the event after its catamaran sustained significant damage during a practice session.
- Team Australia (Bonds Flying Roos) grinder Iain Jensen incurred a knee injury during a maneuver in training. Veteran sailor Glenn Ashby joined the crew as a back-up, subsequently replacing Jensen for the event.
- Artemis Racing (Sweden) wing trimmer Chris Draper sustained a lip injury requiring stitches but returned to sailing activities.
SailGP CEO Sir Russell Coutts commented on the competitive nature of the 2026 season, highlighting the "unbelievable depth across the fleet and no clear favourite."
Day One Racing Summary
On the first day of racing, Sweden's Artemis Racing, the United States, and DS Automobiles Team France were tied for the lead with 31 points each. Australia and the United Kingdom were tied for fourth place with 24 points.
Notable incidents during Day One included:
- Collision: New Zealand and Switzerland collided in the opening fleet race, resulting in both teams being eliminated from that race. New Zealand's vessel sustained stern damage, leading to their withdrawal for the remainder of the weekend. New Zealand driver Peter Burling was penalized eight points for a rule violation related to avoiding contact.
- Race Wins: Australia won the first fleet race. DS Automobiles Team France secured victory in Race 2. Artemis Racing, helmed by Nathan Outteridge, won both Race 3 and Race 4, achieving the day's top speed of 84.64 kilometers per hour.
- Consistent Performance: The U.S. SailGP Team recorded three podium finishes and a fourth place in Race 2.
Tom Slingsby, driver for Australia, expressed appreciation for the home crowd support after their Race 1 win. Nathan Outteridge of Artemis Racing described their performance as unexpected, acknowledging team hype and internal pressure.
Day Two and Final Results
Day Two featured races five and six, with gustier conditions presenting a greater challenge than the first day. Both Great Britain and Australia improved their standings from Day One to advance into the top three for the final race, displacing the United States and Sweden. The Canadian team reportedly encountered difficulties on Sunday.
In the final race, Great Britain secured the victory, marking a strong start to their 2026 season. Australia finished second, and DS Automobiles Team France placed third, having been the most dominant vessel in the initial fleet races. Sweden, despite a strong Day One performance, placed sixth, fourth, and eleventh in Sunday's fleet races, ultimately failing to maintain a top-three position.
Australia's driver Tom Slingsby commented on the challenging conditions and the commendable second-place finish, particularly following the last-minute substitution of Glenn Ashby for Iain Jensen. Great Britain's driver Dylan Fletcher noted the team's effective collaboration to rally and secure the title.
Season Outlook
The Fremantle event is the first of 13 global events in the 2026 SailGP season. Other host cities include Auckland, Sydney, New York, Portsmouth, Bermuda, and Rio de Janeiro. The season grand final is scheduled for November 28-29 in Abu Dhabi, where the year's top three teams will compete for the overall championship. The total prize pool for the season exceeds $19 million, with individual event winners receiving nearly $600,000.