The Rolex SailGP Championship 2025 Season came to a spectacular finish in Abu Dhabi this weekend. After 12 months of intense competition, featuring 12 events across four continents, Emirates GBR SailGP Team were crowned champions. Showcasing consistency throughout the season the British team, with Rolex Testimonee Hannah Mills as strategist, reached the Grand Final alongside the BONDS Flying Roos SailGP Team and Black Foils SailGP Team.
In one of the most unpredictable finals in Rolex SailGP Championship history, Emirates GBR SailGP Team claimed this year’s title, securing victory with a momentous move at the penultimate corner. Off the water, they also earned their second consecutive Impact League title, making them the first team to win both the championship and the Impact League.
Reflecting on her success, Hannah Mills says: “It’s wild. I can’t actually believe it. The level is so high, the racing is so hard and we executed what we wanted to do. Looking back at my career, I have been lucky enough to achieve everything through hard work and the support of the amazing team I am surrounded by. When I stand on top of the podium and celebrate a win, it’s always the people who helped me get there that come to mind. I think about my family, coaches and team, and what they have put in to be a part of my story.”
A Founding Partner since SailGP’s inception in 2018, the 2025 Season began with Rolex reinforcing its support of the league by becoming Title Partner. From here, the Rolex SailGP Championship continued to reinvent the rulebook, as the world’s leading male and female athletes competed on identical F50 catamarans in iconic new locations. These included the first-ever event in Auckland, New Zealand, before a record-breaking speed of 103.93 km/h was achieved in Sassnitz, Germany, and the championship’s debut on the stunning waters of Lake Geneva, Switzerland – the home of the Swiss watchmaker.
One of the most closely contested championships to date, the 2025 Season saw eight of the 12 competing teams claim event victories, testing even the most seasoned competitors. From the introduction of T-Foils early on, to wing failures in San Francisco and pivotal athlete team changes for both the BONDS Flying Roos SailGP Team and Emirates GBR SailGP Team, each moment added an extra layer of excitement to the racing.
Emphasizing the challenges faced by the athletes and teams, Hannah Mills says: “Timing and precise decision-making are everything in the Rolex SailGP Championship so adapting to the T-Foils was a challenge for everyone in the championship – it takes time to fully understand and optimize the technology. At this level, races are often won or lost by the smallest margins, so being precise in every aspect of our decision-making is what sets us apart.”
For Rolex Testimonee Martine Grael, the season has been about laying the foundation for future success while celebrating unforgettable moments on the water. As the first-female driver in the championship, she claimed her first race win with Mubadala Brazil SailGP Team in New York.
Thinking about the last year, Martine Grael says: “My mindset has always been about sailing better today than I did yesterday and this season has been one of growth and discovery. The learning curve has been steep, but every challenge has strengthened our understanding of the F50 and deepened the trust we’ve built with one another. We came into this year knowing it would take time to find our rhythm and I’m proud of how far we’ve come in such a short space of time.”
Rolex’s enduring commitment to the sport and human endeavour has seen the league evolve into one of the most dynamic and competitive global sporting championships.
Rolex Testimonee and BONDS Flying Roos SailGP Team driver Tom Slingsby says: “With SailGP growing, the competition is getting stronger, there are more teams and the best athletes in the world are joining the championship. For us, as athletes, having Rolex as Title Partner elevates the profile of our competition and brings sailing into the broader sporting conversation.”
In recognition of Emirates GBR SailGP Team’s remarkable triumph and Rolex’s long-standing support of the innovative championship, the winning team were presented with a specially engraved Oyster Perpetual Yacht-Master 42 in RLX Titanium, to commemorate their exceptional achievement. As attention turns to the 2026 Season, anticipation builds for what promises to be another transformative year. With new venues on the calendar, the debut of Artemis SailGP Team bringing the total number of F50 catamarans to 13 and the introduction of innovative technologies, the Rolex SailGP Championship continues to push the boundaries on and off water.
