‘Twilight Racing’ Returns to Sydney Harbor

The Rolex SailGP Championship returns to its birthplace this weekend (February 28 – March 1) for the KPMG Sydney Sail Grand Prix – set to deliver action-packed racing with an historic twist. For the first time, the Rolex SailGP Championship will set sail at twilight, transforming the action into a golden-hour spectacle on one of the world’s most iconic harbors.

As the sun dips and the city skyline begins to glow, 11 out of 13 national teams will fly identical F50 foiling catamarans — capable of speeds exceeding 100 km/h — into a stadium-style racecourse wrapped tightly around Shark Island. Expect speed, spray and split-second decisions as the sport’s top athletes battle rivals, shifting breeze and fading light.

A HEAVYWEIGHT RIVALRY ON HOME WATERS

In Sydney, all eyes turn to a rivalry perfectly poised.

Rolex SailGP Championship leaders the Bonds Flying Roos and 2025 Season champions Emirates Great Britain SailGP Team arrive in Sydney locked on 19 points. The British claimed victory here last year, defeating the Australians on home waters and marking a breakthrough victory that started the team’s title-winning campaign.

Now, Tom Slingsby’s BONDS Flying Roos return determined to defend their harbor stronghold. Led by Slingsby and backed by co-owners Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds, the Australians are fresh off a statement win in Auckland – their first in more than a year – carrying the weight of history as the most successful team in SailGP.

Sydney sets the stage for a high-stakes showdown that could shape the season.

THE HARBOR: BEAUTIFUL, BRUTAL, UNPREDICTABLE

Sydney Harbor is both arena and antagonist.

Ocean easterlies funnel through the heads. Southerly changes can arrive without warning. Cliffs, headlands and urban shoreline bend and twist the breeze, creating gusts and pressure shifts that reward reactive, decisive sailing.

The tight course around Shark Island produces short, steep harbor chop and constant tactical decisions. Saturday’s forecast (18–28 km/h gusts) suggests positioning and wind reading will determine race wins. Stronger easterlies on Sunday could unleash higher speeds and more decisive outcomes.

The Sydney racetrack is among the most unique on the Rolex SailGP Championship calendar – wrapping around Shark Island. Confidence is rewarded — but composure under pressure is everything.

A SHIFTING ORDER IN 2026

The early stages of the 2026 Season have signalled fresh pressure on the league’s established powers. Emerging contenders – newcomers Sweden and a resurgent United States – have shown they can perform in heavy air and high-stakes venues, raising questions about whether the traditional hierarchy will hold. With Sydney marking the third stop of the season — and final stop in Australasia – momentum here could prove decisive.

Only 11 of 13 international teams will compete this weekend, with New Zealand and France ruled out following significant damage sustained earlier this month in Auckland.

TWILIGHT: A NEW CHAPTER FOR SAILGP

As racing shifts into golden hour, the sport enters new territory.

Athletes must adapt to subtle changes in light, breeze and temperature as the city skyline glows and the harbor transforms into a natural amphitheater. The later race window promises striking broadcast visuals, an electric on-shore atmosphere and a primetime sporting moment for fans. Fans will experience the racing from the heart of the action on Shark Island hosting all-inclusive Waterfront Premium and sold-out Waterfront Platinum experiences.

Could emerging teams – including the U.S. SailGP Team and Artemis Racing – disrupt the established powers of SailGP in 2026?

SAILGP 101 – HOW IT WORKS

SailGP is a global racing championship designed to redefine professional sailing. The league operates a centrally organized structure with identical, one-design F50 foiling catamarans and shared performance data, creating a genuinely level playing field where any team can win on their day.

Racing takes place in close-to-shore “stadium” environments, bringing fans closer to the action than ever before and delivering a made-for-television broadcast product. Teams compete across multiple races per event, with points accumulated towards the overall championship standings. Only the top three teams progress to a winner-takes-all Final at each event, where execution under pressure is decisive.

WHERE TO WATCH

Fans can follow all the action from the KPMG Sydney Sail Grand Prix, across 12 major broadcast territories, as SailGP continues to grow its global audience. Coverage will be available in the UK (TNT Sports), France (Canal+) , Germany (ZDF), Spain (Movistar), Italy (Sky Italia) and Sweden (TV4). Viewers in the Americas can watch via CBS (USA), TSN (Canada), and Globo and Band (Brazil), while Great Sports will broadcast in China . Coverage will also be available on Fox Sports and SBS in Australia, with Three showing the action in New Zealand.

Commenting ahead of the KPMG Sydney Sail Grand Prix, SailGP CEO and Co-Founder, Sir Russell Coutts, said: “Sydney holds a special place in SailGP’s history and coming back for a record seventh time – while introducing twilight racing for the first time – marks an exciting evolution for the championship. The level of competition across the fleet has never been higher with teams separated by the smallest margins. Every maneuver and decision matters. The racing has never been better and Sydney Harbor delivers one of the most iconic backdrops in our championship. Racing into golden hour will allow better programming for our broadcasters and reflects SailGP’s ambition to keep challenging the status quo – for our athletes, our partners and our fans around the globe.”

BONDS Flying Roos driver Tom Slingsby, said: “There’s nothing like racing on Sydney Harbor. It’s our home turf. We’ve got great momentum coming off our win in Auckland only two weeks ago, but we know the rest of the fleet will be pushing hard. Twilight racing adds another layer to what will unfold over the course of this weekend; the breeze shifts, the light changes, and you’ve got to stay sharp right to the finish. We’ll be giving everything to defend our home waters in front of the Roo Crew.”

Emirates Great Britain driver Dylan Fletcher, said: “It’s been a great start to the season for us as a team and we are buzzing to be back in Sydney this weekend. It’s an iconic venue and holds great memories after our win here last season. We’re in a good place on the leaderboard, joint on points with the Aussies in first, but we are focusing on the big picture of the long season ahead. For us it’s all about pushing forward and building on our performance, and we will be giving it everything out on the harbour this weekend.”