SailGP athletes enjoy twilight sailing on the Swan River
by Swan River Sailing 15 Jan 11:51 UTC
SailGP athletes enjoy twilight sailing on the Swan River © Swan River Sailing
In the lead-up to SailGP Perth, the Swan River has played host to two memorable twilight sailing experiences, welcoming some of the world's top SailGP athletes alongside well-known Western Australian sailing legends at Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club.
The first Twilight Sailing experience took place on 7 January, when Swan River Sailing hosted a relaxed evening on the water for an impressive group of local SailGP athletes and sailing talent. High-performance racers stepped away from the intensity of elite competition to enjoy a friendly sail, taking in the Swan River's conditions and iconic sunset.
Participants on the evening included:
- Ben Durham, Coach of the Bonds Flying Roos SailGP Team
- David Gilmour, Artemis SailGP Team
- Luke Parkinson, Emirates Great Britain SailGP Team
- Kinley Fowler, Bonds Flying Roos SailGP Team
- Alex Maloney, NZ Olympian Sailor
The evening captured the spirit of connection between international athletes and Perth's sailing community, with stunning on-water moments showcasing just how special twilight sailing on the Swan River can be.
Building on that momentum, last night (14th), members of the Emirates Great Britain SailGP Team also took to the water for another SailGP Twilight Sailing session with Swan River Sailing at Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club. Fresh from winning the most recent SailGP season, the British team enjoyed a more relaxed sail ahead of this weekend's racing in Perth.
The session featured local insight from Luke Parkinson, a Perth native and member of the Great Britain SailGP squad, who guided his teammates through the unique conditions of the Swan River and the infamous Freo Doctor.
Together, the two Twilight Sailing events highlighted Perth's strong sailing culture and its ability to welcome world-class athletes both on and off the racecourse. As anticipation builds for SailGP Perth, these experiences reinforced the connection between elite sport, local waters, and the broader sailing community.
SailGP Perth takes place at Bathers Beach, Fremantle, on 17-18 January, bringing some of the most exciting racing on water to Western Australia. Event tickets are now sold out! Head to your local yacht club to watch the on water action on the big screens. Perth's sailing community will be enjoying one of the most vibrant weekends of yacht racing since the America's Cup Defence in 1987.