Taking place on November 23 and 24, 2024, the Emirates Dubai SailGP brings world-class racing, live music, hospitality and après-sail (yes, that’s a thing) entertainment.
In short, SailGP is essentially Formula 1 on water, with short 15-minute, adrenaline-fueled races between national teams at venues worldwide and the new season starts in Dubai. Unlike F1, however, all the drivers are in identical vehicles so it’s far more competitive.
The F50 catamarans use foiling technology, where the boat lifts out of the water and “flies” on hydrofoils, drastically reducing drag and allowing them to reach high speeds, and are crewed by the best athletes in sailing, including former Olympians.
The league’s 11 teams representing Australia, Great Britain, France, USA, Denmark, Germany, Brazil, Canada, New Zealand, Switzerland and Spain will battle it out just metres away from the shore in one of those sports where you don’t need to know lots about it to enjoy the races. But if you want to geek out, there’s an app that allows fans to track race data in real time, dive into boat performance stats, and keep up with race strategies.
Beyond the spectacle of fast-paced racing, the event has a few quirks that set it apart from your usual sporting event. Firstly, SailGP is one of the most sustainable sports, with teams are required to operate under strict sustainability criteria, from the materials used in the boats to reducing their carbon footprints during the event. There’s even a league table for this.
It’s also one of the few nautical sports that happen close enough to the shore so that you can watch, more like a football match.
The SailGP’s Race Stadium in Port Rashid has food and drink, and there are post-race performances from Tinie Tempah on the Saturday, and Craig David on Sunday – a day on which he has persistently claimed he chills, but is making an exception here just for you. Both will perform in the onsite Waterfront Premium Lounge presented by Nikki Beach.
So dig out those stylish boating shoes you bought and hardly ever wear, put on some tailored shorts, a smart polo, your big Ray-Bans and you’re all good to go.
Tickets are available at SailGP.com/Dubai.