Rio de Janeiro will host the inaugural Brazilian stage of SailGP, the renowned international sailing racing championship, known as the most exciting race on the water. The Enel Rio Sail Grand Prix will take place on May 3rd and 4th, 2025,
The competition’s debut in Brazil, in Rio (3-4 May 2025), takes place alongside the arrival of the first South American team, the Mubadala Brazil SailGP Team, announced earlier this year.
The action-packed weekend will mark the debut of SailGP in South America and promises to be a historic moment in the history of the state, which has a centuries-old tradition of hosting major sporting events.
Competing around the world, the 2024-25 SailGP season will be the league’s biggest to date, with events on five continents. Starting in Dubai on November 23 and 24, 2024, it will stop at iconic locations including San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles and Geneva.
Since its first season in 2019, Sail GP has stood out for its combination of cutting-edge technology and high speed, using F50 catamarans, capable of reaching speeds of around 100 km/h. The competing teams represent eleven countries and are made up of elite athletes, who compete in iconic locations around the world. The inclusion of Rio de Janeiro in the global Sail GP circuit reinforces the state’s position as an important destination for international sporting events. Out of curiosity, Sebastian Vettel, four-time Formula 1 world champion, is a co-investor in the German team.
“We are very happy to announce Rio de Janeiro as the venue for one of the SailGP stages. It has always been our dream to be able to have the Brazilian team participate in a stage close to the fans, who are passionate about sport at a high level. SailGP, a new professional league, synonymous with innovation, technology, speed and with a serious commitment to environmental preservation, will certainly captivate the public. It will be a high-level competition with Guanabara Bay as a natural stage, with the beauty of Sugarloaf Mountain and Christ the Redeemer. The perfect stage for this open-air spectacle”, said Alan Adler, CEO of IMM.
“We are pleased to announce not only the venue for the first Brazilian SailGP event, but also to confirm Martine Grael as the pilot of the country’s first SailGP team. Martine is an incredible talent and has shown she can succeed at the highest levels of elite sailing,” said Sir Russell Coutts, CEO of SailGP, continuing:
“Brazil has a highly engaged fan base who loves racing. SailGP will redefine the image of sailing in Brazil, attracting an entirely new audience of followers. We know that the people of Rio will add their special Brazilian touch to the event, supporting Martine, the Mubadala Brazil SailGP team and enjoying the adrenaline-filled atmosphere that our events are becoming known for.
“We are committed to contributing to actions that generate social impact in all regions in which we operate. In Rio de Janeiro, we are one of the main supporters of Sports and Culture initiatives that promote development in the State. Therefore, we joined Sail GP to bring the global sailing championship to South America for the first time, once again projecting Rio onto the international sporting scene”, said Damian Popolo, Director of External Relations at Enel Brasil.
“The arrival of the Enel Rio Sail Grand Prix highlights Rio de Janeiro’s tradition in water sports and reinforces the state’s presence on the map of major international events. This time, with Guanabara Bay as the stage for an unprecedented spectacle in South America, in a competition that combines the high performance of the athletes with the unique beauty of the capital of Rio de Janeiro. It is a competition that goes beyond sport, it also boosts tourism, drives local commerce and strengthens Rio’s image as a vibrant destination prepared to host a wide range of high-level competitions”, stated Rafael Picciani, State Secretary of Sport and Leisure in Rio de Janeiro.
“It is an honor for Brazil to host another world sailing event after the chart successes of The Ocean Race, the 2016 Olympics, the Pan-American Games and countless regattas that choose our country to promote competitions. Furthermore, we have the chance to be the first South American country to join Sail GP and our green-and-yellow team will certainly showcase our talent in the sport, which has already earned us 19 Olympic medals and many world titles in various classes.” ‘, commented the president of CBVela, Marco Aurélio de Sá Ribeiro.
“I see with great enthusiasm the arrival of Sail GP in Brazil and more specifically in Rio de Janeiro and Niterói. The category is very dynamic, competitive and attracts public attention due to the speed and maneuvers of the crews. With the participation of Brazilians, the event will certainly attract a lot of attention to sailing in the country and has everything it needs to be a success”, commented Axel Grael, Mayor of Niterói, where the entire technical base of the event will be located.
The Mayor of Rio, Eduardo Paes spoke about what it means for the city to host the first South American stage of the competition: “Being the stage for the inaugural stage of Sail GP, which arrives in South America for the first time, reinforces the international vocation of the Rio de Janeiro, to attract major events, not just sports, but also music, culture, not to mention the fact that Rio is the capital of the G20 in 2024 and, in November, will bring together the heads of state of the largest economies of the world. The city has regained its leading role on the world stage and Guanabara Bay could not be a better setting for this competition. We will be waiting with open arms for the athletes and fans.”
Governor Cláudio Castro, in turn, highlighted the importance of the event: “Brazil will be the first country in South America to host the Sail GP. The choice of Rio de Janeiro to host the inaugural stage of this important competition, crowns a new era that the state is experiencing, being seen around the world as a postcard for national sport, dedicated and prepared to host major events. The State Sports Incentive Law, combined with large-scale sporting competitions, such as Sail GP, helps promote tourism, economic development, employment and income. As a great supporter of the sport, I will certainly be rooting for our high-speed sailing team to shine at home.”
Credits: Regata News
