Sail GP: The Complete Guide

What is SailGP? The Most Exciting Racing on Water

SailGP is nation vs. nation, close-to-shore, high-speed, high-tech sailing championship featuring the fastest, most skilled athletes on water.

Created by Russell Coutts and Larry Ellison in 2018, this global sports league has redefined sailing with its cutting-edge technology, intense rivalries, and breathtaking races. 

Sir Russell Coutts, CEO of SailGP

All SailGP teams compete in identical F50 catamarans, ensuring that winning is purely about skill, tactics, and strategy. With boats that fly above the water at speeds over 100 km/h, SailGP is essentially Formula 1 on water—and it’s one of the fastest-growing sports in the world.

Nations compete for a $12.8 million prize pool, with elite teams from Australia, New Zealand, Great Britain, Spain, Canada, France, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Brazil, and the USA battling for the ultimate Rolex SailGP Championship title.

SX Bet’s $2,000 Sail GP Betting Tournament

SX Bet is offering betting markets on Sail GP, also launching a $2,000 betting tournament from March 15 - March 23.

Bet on:

• Feet Race Winner

• Finals Qualifiers

• Outrights

  
  

On SX Bet, you can offer odds with or request a bet with limit orders, letting the market come to you.

Place a market order to take the best available odds instantly just like you would on a regular sportsbook.

This flexibility allows sharp bettors to capitalize on mispriced markets, trade positions, and maximize returns. SailGP’s unpredictability and high margins create prime betting opportunities, as favourites don’t dominate and underdogs often exceed expectations.

Meet the Top Performing Teams & The 2025 Standings

Current Leaders

SailGP leaderboard March 15. Source: https://sailgp.com/results/2025/season-championship

1. Emirates GBR – Dylan Fletcher (27 pts)

   
   

2. Australia – Tom Slingsby (24 pts)

   
   

3. Spain – Diego Botin (20 pts)

   
   

Other top competitors:

New Zealand – Peter Burling (20 pts)

ROCKWOOL Denmark – Nicolai Sehested (17 pts)

Canada – Giles Scott (15 pts)

France – Quentin Delapierre (15 pts)

How Does SailGP Work?

Each SailGP event follows a two-day format, featuring a series of fleet races that determine the teams advancing to the Final Race.

The entire fleet goes head to head across six to seven fleet races. The first three to four fleet races unfold on the first day of the event and the final three take place on the second. After fleet racing, the top three ranked teams on points will proceed into the winner-takes-all Final to decide the event winner.

Race Format: Fleet Race, Final Race and Champion Points

Fleet Races – The entire fleet goes head to head across six to seven fleet races. The first three to four fleet races unfold on the first day of the event and the final three take place on the second.

Final Race – After fleet racing, the top three ranked teams on points will proceed into the winner-takes-all Final to decide the event winner.

Championship Points – The winner of an event Final is declared event champion and awarded 10 points in the Championship leaderboard. The season ends with a Grand Final, which includes a Championship Final Race for the top three teams in the season standing, with the winner claiming a prize. 

Scoring System:

Points are awarded based on finishing position in each fleet race. 

Position	Points
1st	10
2nd	9
3rd	8
4th	7
5th	6
6th	5
7th	4
8th	3
9th	2
10th	1
11th+	0

The start line is crucial in SailGP, as teams jostle for optimal positioning before the race starts, with timing and distance judgment being key to gaining a competitive edge.

If a team does poorly on day one, they might struggle to qualify for the final, and even if they do, they will have to make a big comeback to win the championship. 

Sail GP Race Schedule

The 2025 SailGP season is the league’s most expansive yet, featuring new teams and events across five continents. Spanning 12 months, the season kicks off in Dubai and concludes in the United Arab Emirates, delivering high-speed racing in some of the world’s most iconic sailing locations.

See the full SailGP 2025 season schedule.

Key Factors to Consider When Betting on Sail GP

• Crew Changes: Replacing the driver, flight controller, or strategist can have a major impact.

• Wind Conditions: Critical for staying on foils. High and borderline winds create big performance shifts.

• Foiling Score: Measures how effectively a boat stays airborne, which is key to maintaining speed.

• Tactics & Strategy: Shorter distances and fewer maneuvers can trump pure speed, making decision-making paramount.

How Often Favourites Win

• Favourites win less often than in other sports, creating higher-margin opportunities for bettors. Even dominant teams like Australia and New Zealand lose often.

• Australia had the highest fleet race win rate but still only won 30.6% of the time.

• Final races can defy pre-race odds, creating opportunities for value betting.

Where to Watch & Data Access

Tune in via the official Sail GP How to Watch Guide to see the action live.

Sail GP insights, powered by Oracle provides a comprehensive data analytics screen that make evaluates the overall experience. Keeping up with crew updates and weather forecasts can be just as important as analyzing past performance.

The F50: The Most Advanced Racing Boat in the World

The F50 is the pinnacle of sailing technology—a 15-meter foiling catamaran that can reach speeds of over 100 km/h (62 mph). It’s built for pure speed and precision, designed to fly above the water, eliminating drag and maximizing acceleration.

Key Features of the F50:

• One-design class – Every team has identical boats, so winning is all about skill.

• Three wing sizes – Teams switch between 18m, 24m, and 29m wings to adapt to different wind conditions.

• Hydrofoils – The boat literally lifts out of the water, reducing resistance and increasing speed.

• Extreme risks – One mistake at 100 km/h and the boat capsizes spectacularly.

Who Holds the Sail GP Speed Record?

Canada SailGP Team – 101.98 km/h in testing (2024)

The team included Phil Robertson as the driver, wing trimmer Paul Campbell-James, strategist Annie Haeger and flight controller Billy Gooderham. This elite group also included grinders Richard Mason (ROCKWOOL DEN) and Nick Hutton (Emirates GBR).

The Crew and Roles: Understanding Team Dynamics

Each SailGP team consists of six elite athletes — a strategist, driver, wing trimmer, flight controller and two grinders.

• Strategist: The mastermind behind the tactical decisions, the strategist calls the shots on when to tack or jibe, ensuring the team stays ahead of the competition.

• Driver: The driver is the helmsman, steering the boat and controlling its speed with precision and skill

• Wing Trimmer: Responsible for adjusting the wing sail, the wing trimmer fine-tunes the boat’s performance to harness the wind’s power effectively.

• Flight Controller: This role is all about maintaining the boat’s height and stability, ensuring the F50 stays airborne and cuts through the water with minimal drag.

• Grinders: The two grinders are the powerhouse of the team, providing the raw energy needed to operate the boat’s systems and keep it moving at top speed.

  
  

The synergy between the flight controller, wing trimmer, and the rest of the team is what can make or break a SailGP team.