The European stage of the Rolex SailGP Championship reaches its finale this weekend in Cádiz following an eventful race weekend in Geneva, the home of Rolex.
Taking place from Saturday 4 to Sunday 5 October, the DP World Spain Sail Grand Prix Andalucía–Cádiz will test the world’s leading athletes’ ability to work together and harness cutting edge technology in one of the premier destinations for high-performance sailing. Its open, flat bay waters and dynamic winds make for exceptional year-round nautical conditions and are likely to see the identical foiling catamarans reach speeds of up to 100 km/h.
Home favourites Los Gallos SailGP Team are seeking a second consecutive Rolex SailGP Championship title, while current leaders BONDS Flying Roos SailGP Team are confident they can claim a fourth crown, despite finishing runners up to the Spanish team in the 2024 Season. Rolex Testimonee and BONDS Flying Roos SailGP Team Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and driver, Tom Slingsby says: “Change forces you to adapt and address weaknesses, and that’s exactly what we’re doing. I’m confident this will help us evolve into an even more formidable team as we approach the end of the season and compete for the title.”
Spain’s Foiling Base Cádiz was launched in this historic sailing location in 2023 and is dedicated to promoting the development of foiling. Powered by SailGP Inspire and the Municipal Sports Institute of the Cádiz City Council, the facility provides training opportunities for youth and female athletes, ensuring continued growth for the sport. Reflecting on the importance of inspiring the next generation, Rolex Testimonee and the first female driver in the Rolex SailGP Championship, Martine Grael says: “I think it’s so important to inspire the next generation because there is still progress to be made in the sport and beyond. I’m looking forward to seeing how I can contribute to accelerating this change and being a part of the sport’s evolution. It’s an exciting time to be a sailor.”
As the penultimate event of the 2025 Season approaches and with the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Sail Grand Prix Grand Final one month away there is no room for error on the water.
Slingsby says: “Timing is everything in the Rolex SailGP Championship and it’s down to fractions of a second. Hitting the start line at nearly 100 km/h with absolute precision can be the difference between winning and losing. If we’re half a second too early, we’re over the line and penalized. The challenge of executing such precise manoeuvres is what makes the Rolex SailGP Championship so thrilling and why timing is such a crucial factor in our success.”
