Sail GP has confirmed that the 2022 series will be expanded to 10 events, with the UK stage returning to PlymouthUSA SailGP Team helmed by Jimmy Spithill and Australia SailGP Team helmed by Tom Slingsby in action in the final race on race day 2 of Great Britain SailGP, Event 3, Season 2 in Plymouth, UK 18 July 2021. Photo: Jon Buckle for SailGP. Handout image supplied by SailGPSail GP, the multi-event foiling catamaran circuit, will be expanded to 10 events for the 2022\/23 season.
\nBeginning in Bermuda in May 2022, the foiling F50 circuit has announced new host venues including Chicago \u2013 famously known as \u2018The Windy City\u2019 on the US eastern seaboard, Copenhagen in Denmark, and Dubai.
\nEvent organisers have also announced a four-year partnership with New Zealand venues which will see Christchurch on the south island, and Auckland on the north, alternate to host the competition.
\nThe European stage of the Sail GP 2022 tour will kick off in July with the Great Britain Sail GP returning to Plymouth after this summer\u2019s successful running there, before heading to Copenhagen, St Tropez on the south coast of France, and then the Atlantic venue Cadiz, which delivered dramatic conditions this year.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The circuit then moves to its first ever Middle Eastern venue, with November racing in Dubai. The series will conclude in April 2023.
\nThe series has expanded to include 10 teams, so far featuring Australia, Great Britain, Japan, Spain, France, New Zealand, United States and Denmark, with Canada and Switzerland the newest nationalities to join.
\nSail GP 2022: proving its worth?
\nSail GP was founded by Larry Ellison and Russell Coutts and, although initially funded by the Oracle founder\u2019s extremely deep pockets, was always created with the aim that the event would generate its own revenue. Hence it\u2019s no surprise that three of the events already carry title sponsorship.\u00a0
\nTogether with the recent announcement that SIr Ben Ainslie has become the majority owner in his Great Britain Sail GP team, while other teams are now carrying title sponsorship, it appears that the commercial potential of the circuit seems to be coming to fruition.
\nFollowers of the ongoing debate surrounding the America\u2019s Cup\u2019s venue uncertainty will also find it hard not to draw comparisons, with Sail GP not only confirming a four-year commitment to racing in New Zealand, but multiple-year deals secured with several other venues on the circuit. Despite this, however, it\u2019s worth noting the first planned New Zealand Sail GP event, in January 2022, has been cancelled after the event\u2019s request for \u2018Managed Isolation and Quarantine (MIQ)\u2019 facilities \u2013 the strict protocols New Zealand is using to manage the transmission of coronavirus \u2013 were denied.
\nSailGP CEO Sir Russell Coutts said: \u201cWhen Larry Ellison and I came up with the concept for SailGP, we envisaged a league with the best athletes in the world, racing in equal high-tech boats that are extremely fast, creating exciting, close to shore action, and with a regular season for our fans to truly engage with the sport globally.\u00a0
\n\u201cWe set ourselves a five year goal, but to sit here in Season 3 with ten teams on the start line \u2013 including two new franchised teams \u2013 an expanded season calendar, an impressive collection of commercial and broadcast partners, purpose and impact at our heart with a positive impact on the environment and an immersive fan experience through our broadcast and gaming offer \u2013 I simply couldn\u2019t be happier with what has already been achieved.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Women\u2019s pathway returns
\nOrganisers have confirmed that the \u2018Impact League\u2019, in which teams are awarded points for their efforts to reduce the environmental impact of their activities, will continue for Sail GP 2022. The Women\u2019s Pathway programme is also to continue, although we are awaiting further details on which events women sailors will be competing at.
\nThe 2021\/22 series continues on 17-18 December at Sydney. Home team Australia, skippered by Sydney local Tom Slingsby, currently lead the series so all eyes will on them to see if they can defend their advantage.\u00a0
\nThe season finale takes place in San Francisco, with the Grand Final from March 26-27.
\nSailGP Season 3 Schedule 2022\/23<\/p>\n
May 14-15 Bermuda SailGP presented by Hamilton Princess
\nJune 18-19 United States Sail Grand Prix | Chicago at Navy Pier
\nJuly 30-31 Great Britain Sail Grand Prix | Plymouth
\nAugust 19-20 Rockwool Denmark SailGP | Copenhagen
\nSeptember 10-11 France Sail Grand Prix | Saint-Tropez
\nSeptember 24-25 Spain Sail Grand Prix | Andaluc\u00eda \u2013 C\u00e1diz
\nNovember 11-12 Dubai Sail Grand Prix presented by P&O Marinas
\n2023 New Zealand Sail Grand Prix | Christchurch
\nTwo more events TBC<\/p>\n
The post Plymouth, Chicago and Dubai to host Sail GP 2022 during 10-event series appeared first on Yachting World.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Sail GP has confirmed that the 2022 series will be expanded to 10 events, with the UK stage returning to PlymouthUSA SailGP Team helmed by Jimmy Spithill and Australia SailGP Team helmed by Tom Slingsby in action in the final … <\/p>\n