Rolex Los Angeles Sail Grand Prix Preview

The F50 foiling catamarans race past Shark Island during the third race in the 2025 season of the Rolex SailGP Championship © Jon Buckle for SailGP

The Rolex SailGP Championship heads to Los Angeles on March 15-16, bringing together the world's most accomplished sailors for two days of intense racing on identical F50 foiling catamarans.

The action-packed weekend promises an unforgettable display of precision and teamwork. As Founding Partner and Official Timepiece since the championship's inception in 2019, Rolex continues to shape the future of sailing as the Title Partner of the 2025 Season and the Rolex Los Angeles Sail Grand Prix.

Commenting on Rolex's support of the championship Emirates Great Britain SailGP Team strategist and Rolex Testimonee Hannah Mills says: "For me having the Rolex crown present on the sails of the British F50 symbolizes reaching the pinnacle of sailing. Rolex is an iconic brand, and whenever I see the crown, it ignites something in me, that pushes me to perform at my best."

Known for its demanding racecourse, the Port of Los Angeles, presents a formidable challenge for all 12 teams competing in the Rolex SailGP Championship. With races lasting just 14 minutes and the catamarans expected to reach speeds of up to 100km/h (62 mph), the margin for error is razor thin; meaning success is not only down to precise boat positioning but strong communication and teamwork. Following victory in Sydney last month, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Emirates GBR SailGP Team and Rolex Testimonee Sir Ben Ainslie, is determined to ensure his team retain their place at the top of the leaderboard.

Reflecting on his experience as driver in Los Angeles during Season 4, Sir Ben offers an insight into what it takes to excel on Californian waters: "The racecourse is extremely tight, which means communication must be perfect, and every manoeuvre must be expertly executed. Timing is paramount to success on the water. Every second counts, and the synergy between the sailors on board can be the difference between winning and losing. The level of coordination required is immense, making teamwork key to success."

For Rolex Testimonee and the championship's first-ever female driver Martine Grael the importance of strong communication is a key focus for the Mubadala Brazil SailGP Team as a new team in the championship. Grael says: "Timing and precise decision-making is crucial. Every decision and every manoeuvre must be seamlessly executed. If we hesitate or make a decision too late, we risk losing a valuable position in a race."

Driving this intense action on the water is the Rolex SailGP Championship's innovative approach to open-data sharing, which allows teams to analyze and refine their strategies in real-time throughout the race weekend and season. As Grael adds: "To make sure we operate as efficiently as possible, we spend a lot of time analyzing data and video footage between race weekends. By taking the time to do this we can continue to improve our strategy and address any weaknesses. Prioritizing this as a team is extremely important, especially as we are new to the Rolex SailGP Championship."

As the American leg of the 2025 Season unfolds, the world's best sailors will compete in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Rio de Janeiro and New York before heading to Europe and the United Arab Emirates. With anticipation growing for this chapter of the Rolex SailGP Championship it is set to be the most captivating to date, reinforcing Rolex's enduring commitment to sailing.