SailGP Training Hub

SailGP Managing Director Andrew Thompson said the facility would play an important role in developing the next generation of high-performance sailors.

“The SailGP Training Base is more than a facility – it is the infrastructure that enables the next phase of our growth,” Thompson said.

As a year-round high-performance hub, the training base allows our teams to invest in athlete development and progression, ultimately driving the long-term growth of our sport.”

Pensacola was selected for its consistent sailing conditions and established high-performance infrastructure, with the American Magic facility providing access to specialist technical support, safety resources and testing services.

Equal access for competing teams

A key feature of the new training base is its shared operating model, which will provide all SailGP teams with equal opportunities to book training sessions outside race weekends.

SailGP will manage scheduling to ensure consistent access, with multiple teams able to train simultaneously using the facility’s on-water and shore-based resources.

Rather than maintaining individual training facilities, teams will operate under a flexible pay-to-train arrangement, paying only for the days they use the base.

The first 10 days of training will also fall outside the championship’s US$10 million annual team operating cap, providing an additional incentive for teams to invest in development.

The arrangement is expected to help teams build greater squad depth by offering opportunities to introduce new sailors to the demanding F50 platform and develop crew combinations away from the pressures of competition.

Raising the standard of racing

Emirates GBR SailGP Team driver Dylan Fletcher was among the first athletes to visit the new facility and believes regular access to dedicated training infrastructure will improve performance across the fleet.

“Having a dedicated facility like Pensacola to test, train and innovate outside of race weekends will be a game changer for SailGP athletes,” Fletcher said.

“It gives us the opportunity to truly push the limits, dial in our communications and refine our playbooks.”

Fletcher added that a centralised training environment would help raise racing standards and improve the depth of competition throughout the championship.

American Magic Chief Operating Officer Tyson Lamond welcomed the partnership, highlighting the benefits for both the international sailing community and Pensacola.

This five-year commitment gives us an opportunity to bring more local people into the excitement of SailGP,” Lamond said.

The training base also builds on Pensacola’s growing reputation as a centre for high-performance sailing, with the American Magic High Performance Center already established at the Port of Pensacola.

Supporting SailGP’s global expansion

The opening comes as SailGP continues its sixth season, with 13 national teams competing in identical 50-foot foiling F50 catamarans capable of speeds exceeding 100 kilometres per hour.

Founded in 2018 by Larry Ellison and Sir Russell Coutts, the championship has expanded its international calendar and commercial reach, reporting a global audience of 215 million viewers.

With further expansion of its event calendar and competing fleet targeted by 2030, the Pensacola training base will provide a permanent foundation for athlete development, technical preparation and team progression.

By extending training opportunities beyond race weekends, SailGP aims to create a more consistent development pathway for emerging talent while maintaining competitive fairness across its international fleet.

sailgp.com