Emirates GBR ready for first ever Sail Grand Prix in Valencia
by Emirates GBR SailGP Team 4 Sep 19:18 BST
5-6 September 2026
Emirates GBR © Emirates GBR
The Valencia Sail Grand Prix is the tenth event of the 2026 Season and will see SailGP's fleet of high-speed F50 catamarans race on the waters off one of the world's most renowned sailing cities for the first time, marking another milestone in the Championship's continued global growth.
For Emirates GBR, the event represents another important opportunity in the season-long battle to qualify for the end of season winner takes all Grand Final, with Driver Dylan Fletcher and the British crew looking to hit form and deliver a strong performance on Spanish waters.
Valencia has a rich history in international sailing, having hosted the 32nd and 33rd America's Cups, but this weekend will be the first time the city has experienced SailGP's short-format, high-speed fleet racing.
"We've not had a great run of it recently, but we've been in this position before. Last year we managed to turn it around and come through strongly. We know in SailGP it's all about small margins, there's still plenty to play for and we're confident we can turn things around."
Emirates GBR will also be able to count on strong British support in Valencia, with UK fans making up a large percentage of the ticket holders for the event.
The team has been building its connection with supporters through The Fleet, Emirates GBR's growing fan community, with a series of activities planned across the weekend. Ahead of racing, members of the team will join supporters for a Fleet 5K run along Valencia's beachfront on Friday evening
Sir Ben Ainslie, Emirates GBR CEO, said: "Valencia is one of the great sailing cities and it's fantastic to see SailGP racing here for the first time.
"We've seen the SailGP Championship grow exponentially around the world, and we're expecting a great turnout of British supporters travelling to Valencia this weekend, which means a huge amount to the team.
"The support we receive around the world continues to grow, and hopefully we can give the Emirates GBR fans in Valencia plenty to cheer about."
The Valencia Sail Grand Prix takes place on Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 September, with racing getting under way from 13:30 BST each day. UK fans can watch all the action live on TNT Sports.