2026 Rolex SailGP Championship: making each manoeuvre count in New York

by Influence Sports & Media 29 May 20:02 BST 30-31 May 2026

The Rolex SailGP Championship returns to New York, USA this weekend from May 30-31 for the sixth round of the 2026 Season. Rewriting the sailing narrative, the league sees the most accomplished athletes compete on identical foiling F50 catamarans close to the shore in the world's most iconic locations.

The New York leg has become a regular feature and a calendar highlight since the championship's inception in 2019. Set against the backdrop of the Manhattan skyline and the Statue of Liberty, the racecourse is unique due to its unpredictable conditions, with the 12 teams not only battling each other but the Hudson River's infamous currents, tides and shifting winds.

It was in New York that Rolex's legacy with sailing began in 1958, when the Swiss watchmaker partnered with the New York Yacht Club. From there, Rolex's involvement has flourished, extending to Sir Francis Chichester's pioneering feats of exploration in the 1960s, legendary offshore races that test human and technical endeavour and now the pioneering Rolex SailGP Championship. Discussing Rolex's unwavering commitment, Rolex Testimonee and Chief Executive Officer of Emirates GBR SailGP Team, Sir Ben Ainslie says:

"Rolex is an iconic brand with an extraordinary legacy in our sport, partnering with the highest level of athletes and events, on and off the water, and the brand's long-term involvement, vision and support is very powerful in building recognition and participation. Having Rolex as the Title Partner of SailGP brings a huge amount of credibility and prestige to what is proving to be a compelling, successful sporting product."

Returning to the scene of one of her breakthrough achievements is Rolex Testimonee Martine Grael. The Brazilian made waves last season when she became the championship's first female driver and guided the Mubadala Brazil SailGP Team to their maiden race victory on these challenging waters. It was a defining moment, which proved that a female-led crew can successfully compete against the world's best in high-stakes environments. A year later, Grael reflects:

"Winning our first fleet race in New York was a very special moment for us. It gave the whole team a huge confidence boost and showed that we can compete at the top of the league with some of the more experienced teams. In SailGP, you need to make a lot of decisions and execute perfect manoeuvres very quickly, and that only works when the whole team is working in sync."

With five events complete, and eight remaining, the 2026 Season has already delivered intense racing across Australasia, South America and North America. Coming into the weekend, the Australian BONDS Flying Roos SailGP Team led by Rolex Testimonee Tom Slingsby are top of the standings having secured consecutive victories at the most recent events in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and Bermuda. Reflecting on the achievements of the team to date, Slingsby says:

"In the sport of sailing the key qualities are dedication and persistence. Historically, we were seen as a heavy-air or foiling team, and when it became non-foiling conditions, we did struggle at times. We've put a lot of emphasis on building a strong team culture, starting with carefully choosing the right people not just for their skills, but for their ability to contribute to a positive environment."

With the league always looking to the future, the 2027 calendar was confirmed last week. Featuring 13 events, starting in Hong Kong in January, the championship will return to New York from June 5-6, solidifying the venue as a cornerstone sailing event, past, present and future.

Anticipation is building as athletes' arrive on the Hudson River this weekend. This supreme location will demand instinctive decision-making, seamless teamwork and an ability to simultaneously harness technology and mother nature throughout the weekend. With races lasting little more than 13 minutes and each one averaging around 20 manoeuvres, success in the Rolex SailGP Championship is determined by the smallest of margins. On waters steeped in sailing heritage, achievement at the Mubadala New York Sail Grand Prix will be decided by the team who, through performance and perseverance, come together seamlessly under pressure to execute impeccable timing.