The Emirates Great Britain Sail Grand Prix returns to Southsea Common with F50 catamaran racing, followed by an Apres-Sail party featuring Jess Glynne and Craig David.
The Emirates Great Britain Sail Grand Prix is back at Southsea Common on 25 and 26 July, the second time it's come to Portsmouth after the 2025 debut sold out. It turns the Common into a regatta village for the weekend, and it's the start of the championship's European leg, with the fleet heading on to Germany, Spain and Switzerland afterwards.
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If you've never seen it, the racing is on F50 catamarans — 50ft boats that use hydrofoil technology to lift out of the water and fly, hitting speeds of over 100km/h. Twelve national teams go head-to-head, and the local one, Emirates GBR, is led by Sir Ben Ainslie. Dylan Fletcher pilots the F50, with a crew that includes Hannah Mills, Stuart Bithell, Ellie Aldridge, Neil Hunter, Nick Hutton, Luke Parkinson, Ben Cornish and development sailor Kai Hockley. It's a family day out as much as a sporting one, and there's music to keep it going after the racing stops: Jess Glynne plays after Saturday's regatta, and Craig David closes the weekend on Sunday with his TS5 show.
Tickets are on the official SailGP site. The Waterfront Grandstand is £75 for the day or £120 for the weekend, and that gets you a seat, a screen and commentary. The Premium Waterfront Grandstand is £130 a day, with a central seat, priority access and food and drink. If you want something more, the Vela Beach Club is £245 a day or £390 for the weekend, with premium hospitality, shade and access to a simulator. There's also Vela Privé at £500 a day for a private hospitality experience, with a minimum of 10 people. Children under five go in for free, provided they sit on an adult's lap.
On the logistics: the Race Stadium opens at 14:00, with the regatta scheduled between 16:00 and 17:30 — that's subject to change, so keep an eye on the times — and the stadium closes at 18:30. There's no parking on-site except for blue badge holders at Castle Fields, so your best bet is public transport. Portsmouth Harbour, Portsmouth & Southsea and Fratton are the nearest stations, or you can use the Park and Ride at junction 1 of the M275.
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