SailGP: Russell Coutts on the growth and value of the SailGP League

Please select your home edition

Edition

SailGP: Russell Coutts on the growth and value of the SailGP League

by Yahoo Finance 3 Jan 21:54 GMT

Emirates Great Britain SailGP Team helmed by Dylan Fletcher sails by the grandstand, on Race Day 2 of the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Sail Grand Prix Season Grand Final presented by Abu Dhabi Sports Council © Christopher Pike for SailGP

Ahead of the start of Season 6 of SailGP getting underway in Perth on January 17, SailGP CEO, Russell Coutts talks with the Yahoo Finance channel on the growth, value and future direction of SailGP.

He says the League's plan is to grow to 20 teams (likely to sail in two qualifying fleets of 10 boats each) with the top four teams going forward to the Final.

SailGP - Season in numbers - Season 5 - December 11, 2025 - photo © SailGP

SailGP - Season in numbers - Season 5 - December 11, 2025 - photo © SailGP

Coutts says the value of a team now is USD$70million, with the potential value for each team being determined by their territory.

The focus of the League is not currently on growth of TV and broadcast revenues, but on audience growth. On top of the growth to 20 teams, the League will increase the number of venues (already at 14 for Season 6).

Related Articles

Kiwi Govt pulls out of SailGP hosting
The administrative arm of the NZ Govt has pulled back from hosting a third major sailing event. The Wellington-based administrative arm of the New Zealand Government, has once again pulled their signature move, withdrawing from support of a major sailing regatta in Auckland. Posted today at 12:57 am

SailGP Rio: Four straight wins for Australia
The Bonds Flying Roos won four straight races on the second day of racing at SailGP Rio. The Bonds Flying Roos won four straight races on the second day of racing at SailGP Rio. That included the three qualifying races sailed, plus the final - a feat unprecedented in the six seasons of SailGP League racing. Full replay here. Posted on 12 Apr

SailGP Rio: Tight at the top - Day 1
USA continues their excellent form of Season 6 - in second overall after four races. The Bonds Flying Roos lead the fleet with 28 points after the opening four fleet races of the Enel Rio Sail Grand Prix. A red-hot U.S. SailGP Team is close behind in second (27 points), while Artemis SailGP Team round out the podium group. Posted on 11 Apr

Quantum Pacific Enters SailGP
With Acquisition of Championship-Winning Spain Team SailGP, the most exciting racing on water, today announced the sale of the Los Gallos SailGP Team (Spain) to the Quantum Pacific Group ("Quantum Pacific"), marking a landmark moment for both the championship and Spanish sport. Posted on 9 Apr

SailGP: New boat in build for Black Foils
The team will receive an entirely new boat from SailGP Technologies New Zealand's Black Foils will not be on the start line at this week's Enel Rio Sail Grand Prix but are pursuing a return to racing as soon as possible. Date for resuming sailing to be confirmed after Rio. Posted on 8 Apr

Enel Rio SailGP: Will ask plenty of Questions
Racing on the Stadium course in the Rio 2016 Olympics, saw reputations made and destroyed. SailGP lands in Rio for its long-awaited South American debut, where iconic scenery meets wildly unpredictable racing. Posted on 5 Apr

Marlow Ropes Joins SailGP as Official Supplier
Joining the championship through the end of the 2027 Season SailGP, the most exciting racing on water, today announced a new global partnership with leading British manufacturer Marlow Ropes, who joins the championship as the Official Rope Supplier through the end of the 2027 Season. Posted on 2 Apr

KPMG Sydney Sail Grand Prix Overall
Canfield leads U.S. SailGP Team to Historic Win The U.S. SailGP Team has won the KPMG Sydney Sail Grand Prix, sailing to victory ahead of Emirates GBR in second and Los Gallos in third. It marks the team's first event win since Cádiz in Season 4, and Canfield's first ever in SailGP. Posted on 1 Mar

SailGP: Their Finest Hour - Why USA won in Sydney
All-USA team answers critics with a well executed strategy in fickle Sydney breeze. The USA SailGP team, skippered by matchracing champion, Taylor Canfield answered their long-standing critics with an emphatic win in the Final of KPMG SailGP Sydney. However it wasn't the Finest Hour for the TV/Video coverage of the finish. Posted on 1 Mar

KPMG Sydney Sail Grand Prix Day 1
Spain seize sunset lead Spain were the form team on day one in Sydney, sailing into the sunset with two wins in four fleet races. Those unafraid to make bold, decisive moves were rewarded around the split Shark Island racetrack. Posted on 28 Feb