SailGP: Russell Coutts reflects on Season 5 and looks ahead to Season 6
by SailGP 23 Dec 2025 17:44 PST
Rockwool Denmark SailGP Team and Red Bull Italy SailGP in action on Race Day 2 of Sail Grand Prix , Auckland, New Zealand. - January 2025 © Ricardo Pinto/SailGP
As we close the book on our fifth season, I want to start with two numbers that still make me smile every time I say them out loud.
Twelve teams. Twelve events. When we first sketched out SailGP, those figures were numbers we hoped to achieve but weren’t certain we ever would. Today they’re a reality - and the teams are pushing each other to extraordinary levels in iconic venues all over the world.
The 2025 Season has been our biggest and most competitive yet. The racing has been relentless, with eight of our 12 teams winning events and every team tasting victory at least once. That level of parity is no accident. It’s what makes SailGP such a compelling watch and it’s a huge part of why fans keep coming back for more.
And come back you certainly did. This season we averaged 18 million dedicated viewers per event, peaking at 23 million in Cádiz. From 3.4 million per event in Season 1 to record-breaking audiences today, including the most-watched sailing race in history on CBS in the US (3,469 million viewers), it’s been a remarkable journey. Add to that 2 million live viewers on ZDF in Germany for our event in Sassnitz and more than one million YouTube subscribers with 1.67 billion social views this season alone and it’s clear SailGP is capturing much broader attention than we ever imagined possible at this stage of our development..
Our events have grown on-site too. Very large crowds in iconic venues like Auckland, Portsmouth, Cádiz and Sassnitz showed the world that sailing can be a true stadium sport, delivering drama both on the water and onshore. None of that happens without an incredible team working behind the scenes and world-class athletes pushing the limits every time they line up.
I’d also like to acknowledge our partners and owners, including co-founder Larry Ellison, who believed in this idea when it was little more than two boats, a workshop and a shared office for eight staff. Today SailGP is a thriving global league, and we’re only just getting started.
Most importantly, thank you to you, our fans. Your passion, your energy and your belief in what we’re building means everything to us. And this is only the beginning: in 2026, 13 teams will charge into 13 events around the world delivering faster racing, higher stakes and more unforgettable moments for fans everywhere… and, yes you guessed it, there are more exciting announcements to come.
See you on the start line!
Sir Russell Coutts
Co-founder and CEO
SailGP
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