SailGP: Fresh opening day likely to trigger split fleets
by Richard Gladwell/Sail-World.com/nz 30 May 06:58 BST
F50 catamarans in the technical area ahead of the Mubadala New York SailGP in New York, May 29, 2026 © Ricardo Pinto/SailGP
With fresh winds forecast to be gusting into the high 20kts in New York for the first day of racing in the Mubadala New York SailGP, the 12-boat fleet is expected to be split into two fleets of six.
The idea was floated during a SailGP Pre-Race Preview earlier today, and a graphic was presented on how the split could be made.
The F50s will race with 18metre rigs
SailGP meteorologist Chris Bedford is predicting gusty breeze, shifting winds and complex tidal flows across the May 30-31 event..
"The biggest challenge will come from the wind.
"On Saturday, a low-pressure system off Cape Cod is expected to drive a fresh northerly breeze down the Hudson, funnelling air over Manhattan and onto the racecourse.
“The expectation is that it’s going to be quite gusty and shifty right down on the racecourse,” Bedford said. “So Saturday is going to be quite a challenging day, with the breeze quite up and down on the course. That should be interesting.”
New York has long been considered one of the championship’s most unforgiving venues. With breeze spilling through the city’s skyscrapers, huge tidal flows and limited room for error on the Hudson, the racecourse can reward instinct as much as preparation.
The breeze is expected to ease for Sunday's racing and the 12 teams will race as a single fleet.