Please select your home edition
Edition
InsureMy leaderboard April May June 2025

Latest Racing on the Edge reveals a race against time, as 4 teams fight for spot on 2024/25 Season

by SailGP 8 Jul 2024 19:15 BST
Racing on the Edge Season 4 Episode 10 © SailGP

This weekend's SailGP Season 4 Grand Final is set to be the final event for one national team - could even title hopefuls New Zealand's place in the league be at risk?

The latest episode of SailGP's Racing on the Edge docuseries, in partnership with Rolex, provides a behind-the-scenes look at tension and uncertainty building across the global racing championship, with time running out for four teams to secure their place on the startline next season.

In the episode, SailGP CEO Russell Coutts reveals that league-owned teams Canada, France and Spain have been issued formal notice that one will be dropped from the league should they fail to secure third-party ownership or full commercial backing by the start of the 2024/2025 Season in November.

Coutts said: "There's one team that's going to have to leave the league. Right now the teams that have been notified are Canada, France and Spain."

The first of new teams and ownerships is confirmed in New York - with a press conference announcement celebrating the acquisition of the league's first South American team, the Mubadala Brazil SailGP Team. As the episode goes on to reveal promising commercial developments for Spain, Canada and France, Coutts drops another bombshell: "What if they [Canada, France and Spain] all found their funding? Well then it leaves one other team that could be dropped - New Zealand."

The revelation ratchets up pressure for the Black Foils ahead of this weekend's San Francisco Grand Final - with national pride, personal glory, US $2million in prize money and now, the team's future, all on the line. The season leaders and only team with a confirmed spot in the Grand Final race, fans are also left asking, "Would the league really drop New Zealand?"

Elsewhere, Racing on the Edge provides a personal look at the Canada SailGP Team and driver Phil Robertson. Following Canada at their first home event in Halifax, viewers get a glimpse of Robertson and the team's antics, on and off the water.

Robertson - who has driven for three national teams, including China (Season 1), Spain (Season 2) and now Canada - makes his own case for the team's commercial viability next season - whilst also taking the opportunity to cast doubt on his competitors' chances.

"I've got a lot of optimism about what's happening in the background commercially. There's some good things going on and for sure this team needs to stay in this league," said Robertson.

"Everyone loves to talk it up, and in reality, I don't think many of these teams have many leads. We have a fish on the hook and yeah, it's real."

The most exciting racing on water, SailGP returns for the final stop on the league's record 13-event calendar, the SailGP Season 4 Grand Final, this weekend in San Francisco. Five remaining fleet races will determine who earns a spot alongside Peter Burling's Black Foils in the ultimate decider, the winner-takes-all Grand Final.

Fans can tune into all the action, beginning at 2.30pm local time (PDT) on Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 July. Racing will be 5:30pm (ET) in the U.S.on CBSSN. Find out where and how to watch around the world, at SailGP.com/Watch.

Limited tickets remain at SailGP.com/SanFrancisco.

Related Articles

SailGP: Roger Federer inspires Swiss SailGP team.
Roger Federer joins forces with Switzerland SailGP Team to inspire success One of Switzerland's greatest sporting icons, Roger Federer, features in the newest episode of Racing on the Edge, SailGP's official behind-the-scenes docuseries, produced in partnership with Rolex. Posted on 27 Jun
Rolex SailGP Championship 2026 dates confirmed
Including a return to fan-favorite destination, Auckland SailGP has released further details of forthcoming 2026 Season, including the return of fan-favorite locations, multi-year hosting agreements secured across all regions, and an evolved regional structure to raise the stakes for athletes and fans alike. Posted on 26 Jun
SailGP opens tender process for two new teams
SailGP has confirmed 2026 expansion plans, unveiling details of a tender process to seek investment. SailGP has confirmed 2026 expansion plans, unveiling details of a tender process to seek investment for ownership of two new teams entering the global racing championship next season, alongside available stakes across existing national teams. Posted on 23 Jun
Mubadala New York Sail Grand Prix overall
Spain SailGP Team claims second consecutive U.S. win Diego Botin and the Spain SailGP team have punched their way to the top of the Rolex SailGP Championship, taking the win on Sunday in New York. Posted on 9 Jun
SailGP: Spain lead in New York - Day 1
Spain top the leaderboard after the first day of racing in the Mubadala New York Grand Prix Spain top the leaderboard after the first day of racing in the Mubadala New York Grand Prix, after a consistent day's sailing on the murky and rainswept Hudson River. Full replay and leaderboard in this story. Posted on 7 Jun
Mubadala New York Sail Grand Prix day 1
Spain overcomes storm clouds, topping the standings Diego Botin's Spain SailGP Team leads the fleet after a stormy and tactical opening day of the Mubadala New York Sail Grand Prix. France, ROCKWOOL Denmark and New Zealand are all hot on his heels for all-important leaderboard points. Posted on 7 Jun
SailGP to Kick Off Summer in New York
With this Weekend's Mubadala New York Sail Grand Prix An unforgettable weekend of high-speed, close-to-shore racing and world-class entertainment will take place this weekend when the Mubadala New York Sail Grand Prix takes place in front of the most famous skyline in the world. Posted on 5 Jun
SailGP: Media Conference concludes in New York
Skippers speak ahead of the Mubadala New York Sail Grand Prix The media conference ahead of the Mubadala New York Sail Grand Prix has concluded, without any special points being revealed, save for Brazil lending a crew member to Germany. Posted on 5 Jun
Should SailGP ditch the wings?
As SailGP resumes in New York this weekend, we ask the question As SailGP resumes in New York this weekend, we ask the question of whether the F50's solid wingsails should be ditched and replaced instead with twin-skin mainsails, in a similar way to what is used on the AC75 and AC40 of the America's Cup. Posted on 5 Jun
SailGP Racing on the Edge Season 5 Episode 5
Los Gallos revisit their SailGP Season 4 triumph Get a behind the scenes look at the inner workings of the SailGP Season 4 Champions as they return to winning territory – facing personal and professional challenges head on. Posted on 3 Jun