Rolex Testimonee Hannah Mills is strategist for current Rolex SailGP Champions, Emirates GBR SailGP Team. Photo: Ricardo Pinto for SailGP.
The Rolex SailGP Championship made a return this January with its 2026 season opener in Fremantle, Western Australia — a location known as much for its demanding conditions as its natural beauty. Hosting its first-ever SailGP event from 17 to 18 January, the historic port city tested test teams immediately, with the powerful afternoon winds known locally as the “Fremantle Doctor” shaping racing strategies from the outset.
The opening weekend marked the start of a 13-event calendar spanning five continents, with both new teams and new host cities joining the championship. More than just a race series, SailGP has established itself as a showcase for cutting-edge engineering, elite athleticism and modern competition — values closely aligned with Rolex’s long-standing association with performance sports.
Rolex And The Making Of Modern Sailing
Rolex Testimonee Tom Slingsby, CEO and driver for Bonds Flying Roos SailGP Team, in action.
As a Founding Partner of SailGP since its launch in 2019 and Title Partner since 2024, Rolex has played a central role in the championship’s evolution. The partnership reflects the brand’s focus on precision, innovation and pushing boundaries — qualities essential in a sport where races are often decided by fractions of a second.
For Rolex Testimonee Hannah Mills, strategist for the Emirates GBR SailGP Team, the partnership has helped elevate the league’s global profile. The presence of the Rolex crown on the towering F50 wing sails, she notes, is a visible reminder of the brand’s commitment to shaping the future of the sport.
Defending Champions And Fine Margins
The Rolex SailGP Championship results are determined by the finest of margins. Photo: Andrew Baker for SailGP.
Emirates GBR SailGP Team return to the water as defending champions after a landmark 2025 season, becoming the first team to secure both the overall championship and the Impact League title in the same year. Led by Sir Ben Ainslie, the team’s success reflected not only performance on the racecourse but leadership off it, with the Impact League recognising initiatives focused on sustainability and inclusivity.
Yet, dominance is increasingly difficult in SailGP. With identical F50 catamarans, open data sharing and access to advanced analytics across the fleet, margins are tighter than ever. According to Rolex Testimonee Tom Slingsby, driver for Australia’s BONDS Flying Roos SailGP Team, mistakes are now almost impossible to recover from. Consistency, rather than outright aggression, has become the defining factor.
Technology At The Heart Of The Race
The F50 Catamaran Fleet race against the backdrop of New York City during the Rolex SailGP Championship. Photo: Samo Vidic for SailGP.
For 2026, further refinements to flight-control systems, wing design and real-time data capabilities have been introduced, allowing teams to respond more accurately to rapidly changing conditions. With F50 catamarans now capable of speeds exceeding 100km/h, timing has become as critical as raw speed.
A perfect start, a clean manoeuvre at the mark or a well-timed response to a wind shift can decide the outcome of a race. In this environment, SailGP has become as much a contest of decision-making as physical skill.
Expanding The Fleet And Map
Rolex Testimonee Martine Grael, driver for Mubadala Brazil SailGP Team, races on Sydney’s iconic harbour.
The new season also introduces Sweden’s Artemis SailGP Team, expanding the fleet to 13 and ushering in the league’s first formal athlete transfer framework. These changes signal a maturing competition, one that continues to attract top talent while evolving its structure.
Alongside Perth, new venues in Rio de Janeiro will debut this season, while familiar locations such as Geneva, Bermuda and Halifax return. Together, they reflect a shared ambition between Rolex and SailGP: to bring elite, high-performance sailing to a broader global audience — and to showcase a sport where precision is everything.
(Images: Rolex)
