- The fifth edition of the SailGP championship starts this weekend
- A race has been confirmed in Britain next year
- SailGP has also announced a new lucrative sponsorship deal for the event
The SailGP Championship will return to Britain next year after a new long-term sponsorship deal for the event was agreed.
The official launch press conference was held in Dubai on Thursday and it has been confirmed that a SailGP race to Portsmouth will take place from 19 to 20 July 2025.
Twelve national teams will head to the south coast next summer, including Sir Ben Ainslie and his British team for their home race.
Ainslie, 47, retired as driver of the Emirates Great Britain SailGP team earlier this year but is now CEO of the team ahead of the fifth edition of the competition.
The 2025 championship is sponsored by Swiss watchmaker Rolex, after agreeing a long-term partnership with SailGP.
Rolex has been synonymous with Formula 1 and is now heavily involved in the sport of sailing, much to the delight of Sir Russell Coutts, CEO of SailGP.
The SailGP Championship kicks off this weekend and returns to Britain next summer
It means that Sir Ben Ainslie and his team from Great Britain get a home race
SailGP has signed a new long-term sponsorship deal with Swiss watchmaker Rolex
Agreeing the partnership, Coutts said: “The dawn of the Rolex SailGP Championship marks a new era in our sport – a testament to a shared commitment to excellence, both on and off the water.
“Rolex’s legacy of performance and precision perfectly complements SailGP’s mission to redefine the sport of sailing – an annual championship that offers exciting racing in iconic global destinations. SailGP and Rolex are now one and the same, and we are incredibly proud to share this journey with them.”
Arnaud Boetsch, Director of Communications & Image at Rolex, added: ‘SailGP is a pioneer that stands for precision, teamwork and innovative technology.
“Since the series’ inception, Rolex has celebrated the journey of the sport and its athletes, marked by exceptional performance, incredible milestones and powerful emotions, both on and off the water.
“We are excited to deepen our support as a title partner and celebrate SailGP’s success, reinforcing our shared vision to push boundaries and inspire future generations.”
There will be 14 races in the 2025 championship, which starts in Dubai this weekend. The championship will conclude in November next year with a race in Abu Dhabi.