Big Ben Rings in the One-Month Countdown to Emirates Great Britain Sail Grand Prix
by Emirates GBR SailGP Team 25 Jun 12:41 PDT
25-26 July 2026
Emirates GBR athletes Dylan Fletcher and Hannah Mills and team principal and CEO Sir Ben Ainslie joined SailGP executives Andrew Thompson and Leah Davis in central London to start the countdown to the Emirates Great Britain Sail Grand Prix © Jason Ludlow for SailGP.
SailGP marked a month to go until the Emirates Great Britain Sail Grand Prix in Portsmouth at a special event in central London.
Emirates GBR driver Dylan Fletcher and strategist Hannah Mills joined CEO and team principal Sir Ben Ainslie in the capital, as they looked ahead to the flagship race on the south coast, July 25-26, 2026
They were joined by SailGP's managing director Andrew Thompson and chief marketing officer Leah Davis.
Now in its sixth season, SailGP is known as the most exciting racing on water with 13 international teams competing in close-to-shore races, at speeds in excess 100km/h, across the world.
The Emirates Great Britain Sail Grand Prix, which takes place at Southsea Common, marks the start of the Rolex SailGP Championship’s European calendar. The league will then visit Sassnitz in Germany in August, before travelling to Valencia and Geneva in September.
Emirates GBR driver Dylan Fletcher said: “I am absolutely buzzing to come back to Portsmouth. It was an incredible event last year, and this year we want to show our best for all our home fans and bounce off the energy from them.
“As a team we do feel the extra pressure in a home event that we need to deliver a bit more than normal, but I think the whole team really thrives off that pressure and energy, and it really helps fuel us on that start line and around the race course.”
Emirates GBR strategist Hannah Mills said: “I’m so excited to get back to Portsmouth to race. It's such a phenomenal race course, the grandstand is right there on the sea front. Last year we were going round the bottom marks, meters away from the grandstand. You can hear the crowd, you can sense them, it’s very special.
“We want to show our sport in the greatest light and for anyone coming down and watching it will be an incredible day out. Hopefully we put on a good show and give you lots to cheer about, there's nothing like seeing the F50s racing in real life.”
SailGP managing director Andrew Thompson said: “It’s great to be here to mark a month to go to the Emirates Great Britain Sail Grand Prix. The British event is one of the most important in our calendar from a championship perspective – kicking off an incredible summer series in Europe.”
“Portsmouth is one of the first races teams, supporters and partners look for in the calendar. There’s nothing quite like the British Summer of Sport and we’re very pleased to be a part of it – bringing world-class competition on water, nothing else comes close.”
“Last year, the city really embraced SailGP and we’re looking forward to returning in a few weeks’ time, with even more opportunities to get involved. Pack the waterfront, fill the restaurants, jump on the train and make a day of it. SailGP is at its best when the whole community shows up."
The inaugural Emirates Great Britain Sail Grand Prix | Portsmouth last July was the first hosted by Portsmouth, with a sold out crowd of more than 20,000 spectators enjoying a weekend of racing and entertainment.
Along with the most exciting racing on water, this year racegoers will again enjoy world class food and drinks and the best in entertainment.. Pop sensation Jess Glynne will headline Saturday’s Après-Sail line up and legendary singer-songwriter Craig David will close the weekend on Sunday with his TS5 show.
It has also been confirmed that Goslings will partner the event as the Official Rum and Ginger Beer Supplier, bringing Goslings Rum, Goslings Stormy Ginger Beer and the trademarked Dark ’N Stormy® cocktail to Portsmouth. The Bermudian company first partnered with SailGP for their home event, the Apex Group Bermuda Grand Prix, in May. They join a wider event beverage portfolio, including Après Provence and Corona Cero.
Malcolm L. Gosling, Jr., President, Gosling’s Export Bermuda, said: “SailGP is about more than world-class racing; it is about the energy and camaraderie that comes from bringing people together by the water. That sense of shared enjoyment has always been at the heart of the Goslings brand, and we are delighted to bring a taste of Bermuda to Portsmouth as fans gather to celebrate a great weekend of sailing.”
Limited tickets remain, via Tickets.SailGP.com/Portsmouth