Sail GP Auckland 2026: Best pics

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All images by Sail GP media & respective photographers credited.

Our take on the current status of the Sail GP:

These beasts are not meant to be racing short compact Stadium courses, for the nth time they need to rely on the broadcasting/streaming to generate $. Install a big screen if you want local people seeing a thing, you cannot have a Monaco like scenario in Sailing.

On the dangerous aspect, this event has ineed Formula 1 racing status, there are inherited risks involved when you sail at 54Knots/100kmh in foiling cats (or AC monos). Thus when we hear on gender quota and all that woke nonsense you need to understand that only the best & fittest sailors should participate in these series, being man or female, it doesn’t matter at all. Only the Best.

This collision can happen in a close match racing scenario too, of course putting 12 boats on such small course + a reaching start doubles the chances, but dangerous situations will remain.

Maybe reinforcing cockpits can be a good thing to do a la F1, you will add weight but at the same time you can go soft sail rig, proven as fast by the Americas Cup monohulls.

All in all, the AC75 with the super wide arms are even more dangerous, the point being these are indeed the real Extreme Sailing series.

In short, forget about the tight short stradium courses, beef-up cockpits and work in all safety possible measures, but remember we are talking about 54Knots / 100kmh flying yachts, there will always be a great quota any given failure or human error triggering unwanted accidents.

F1 Fangio early days pilots died by the numbers, current safety tech has been improved greatly since then (but remember the Great Ayrton Senna) so there is always a chance to improve it but you cannot prevent at a 100% rate any given contingency.