A jam-packed SailGP season has been scheduled for 2021 with new venues added to spice up the racing. But luckily the 2020 season did produce some sailing, and the sailors still have something to say about this short season.
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A change in schedule
SailGP updated the schedule for the first half of its second season, with the opening events now set for the island of Bermuda and the southern Italian city of Taranto.
On April 24-25, 2021, the Bermuda Grand Prix presented by Hamilton Princess, will set the stage for an expanded season that is planned to feature nine events. Following the opener, the first-ever Italy Grand Prix will be held June 5-6 in Taranto.
San Francisco and New York were initially set to host the first events following SailGP’s Season 2 postponement due to COVID-19. The league shifted the schedule to ensure greater certainty. The United States Grand Prix | San Francisco will now serve as the SailGP Season 2 Grand Final, and is planned to take place in April 2022.
New SailGP venue partners for 2021
Just over 1,000 km/640 miles off the East Coast of the U.S.A, Bermuda is not only the ultimate island destination, but has been largely shielded from the pandemic. Due to its successful health and safety measures, Bermuda is an ideal venue to restart SailGP’s global racing championship and host pre-season training.
Following the league’s restart in Bermuda, SailGP will shift to Europe – where four of its eight national teams are based – for a series of five grand prix events beginning in Taranto. Italy has long been one of the top sailing destinations in the world, and the southern coastal city will welcome the world’s best sailors for the first time.
The Great Britain Grand Prix | Plymouth will then take place on July 17-18, followed by the Rockwool Denmark Grand Prix | Aarhus on August 20-21. Two additional European host cities will be announced with the remaining season schedule in early December.
SailGP CEO Sir Russell Coutts said: “After our successful opening season in 2019, cities have taken notice of SailGP, recognizing the economic potential and international exposure that comes with hosting our global events, as well as the community impact of our Race for the Future purpose-driven agenda. We’re incredibly pleased that our venue partner portfolio has expanded to include events in Bermuda and Italy. Both venues should provide excellent conditions for our high speed, close-to-shore racing. This new schedule allows us to plan our first events of 2021 with more confidence while still retaining a U.S. event at the end of the season.”
New SailGP venue – Bermuda
The Bermuda Tourism Authority will serve as the Official Host Partner of the league’s first-ever Bermudian event.
The Hamilton Princess & Beach Club will serve as Title Partner for the kick-off event. SailGP will also work closely with Bermuda on the common goal of diverse and meaningful social impact. There will be clear engagement points across the community, including through SailGP Inspire.
As an island territory, Bermuda’s sailing legacy is integral to its 400-year-old history. The seafaring nation invented the iconic Bermuda Rig, which is still used in sailing yachts today. Bermuda played host to the 35th America’s Cup in 2017, which provided a spectacular playing field.
New SailGP venue – Taranto
Taranto in Southern Italy will host the first-ever Italy Grand Prix and the second stop of SailGP Season 2. The ‘City of Two Seas’ is situated between two bodies of water – the Big Sea and Little Sea. The unique natural harbour will provide the perfect setting for the adrenaline-filled racing.
SailGP will join the list of international sporting events hosted by Taranto. In October 2020 Taranto was a stop on the prestigious Giro d’Italia – one of cycling’s three Grand Tours – and in 2026 the city will welcome 26 countries to compete in the XX Mediterranean Games.
Pre-Season Training
SailGP’s eight national teams – Australia, Denmark, France, Great Britain, Japan, New Zealand, Spain and the United States – will use the stunning blue waters of Bermuda’s Great Sound to hone their skills during a pre-season training camp. For the first time female athletes will be included in the training as part of SailGP’s gender equity initiative.
Did you know?
In its inaugural season, SailGP attracted a global broadcast audience exceeding 256 million! An average economic impact of US$23 million was recorded per venue, boosting local hotels, restaurants and businesses.
