Spain Sail Grand Prix | Valencia

Valencia, SailGP's New Spanish Home

Thirteen F50 catamarans blasting across Marina Port Valencia at speeds exceeding 100 km/h: that's the program for the Spain Sail Grand Prix, scheduled for 5-6 September 2026. The tenth stop of a thirteen-event season, this Mediterranean stopover arrives at a pivotal moment in the championship — where every point counts in the race to the Grand Final.

And this is no simple logistical shift. After four seasons in Cádiz, SailGP has signed a three-year agreement with Valencia, anchoring the circuit on Spain's east coast through 2028. A radical change of scenery, from Andalusia's Atlantic shores to the Mediterranean basin.

From Cádiz to Valencia: A Strategic Bet

The choice of Valencia follows impeccable logic. The city inherits infrastructure built for the America's Cup — port facilities tailor-made to meet the technical demands of the F50s, without massive construction work.

The stakes go beyond sport:

• Nautical heritage: Marina Port Valencia already has the docks, hangars and technical zones suited to major sailing events
• National momentum: the Spanish team arrives as Season 4 champion, a title that has boosted public interest in SailGP
• Economic impact: local authorities are banking on a significant tourism influx, leveraging the circuit's international showcase

A Race Course Built for Spectacle

Forget Cádiz's Atlantic swell. In Valencia, in September, conditions are radically different — and just as demanding.

What the Mediterranean Has in Store

The local thermal breeze typically blows between 12 and 18 knots, an ideal window for the F50s to take off on their foils. But the trap lies in the sea state: short, steep waves — the infamous Mediterranean "chop" — that severely test the flight controllers. Maintaining stability on a foiling catamaran at nearly 100 km/h in this kind of chop is precision work.

The course will be laid out in close proximity to the breakwater, transforming the marina into a nautical stadium. Spectators will see the action up close — crosses, gybes, explosive accelerations — no binoculars needed.

The Format: Maximum Intensity Over Two Days

The event follows SailGP's standard format, designed for clarity and suspense.

Saturday, 5 September

Three to four fleet races bringing all 13 catamarans together simultaneously. Each race distributes points: 10 for first, then decreasing to 1 point for tenth.

Sunday, 6 September

Two or three additional fleet races, then the moment of truth: the Grand Final. Only the top three teams on cumulative points qualify. One race, one winner. The victor takes 10 points in the overall championship, second gets 9, third gets 8.

Note: split-fleet format trials were conducted earlier in the season in New Zealand. The classic format remains planned for Valencia, but teams must prepare for potential adjustments.

"Los Gallos" on Home Turf

Thirteen nations on the starting line, but only one crew will carry the weight of the home crowd's expectations.

Spain Under Pressure

Diego Botín at the helm, Florian Trittel on wing trim: the Olympic duo who claimed the Season 4 title knows the taste of victory at the summit. Racing at home, in front of a supportive crowd, amplifies everything — the energy and the pressure. SailGP history shows that sailing "at home" is a double-edged sword.

The Rivals to Watch

• Australia — Tom Slingsby: multiple champion, absolute benchmark for consistency. The man to beat, season after season.
• New Zealand — Peter Burling: the "Black Foils" are the main challengers for the overall title, with fearsome top-end speed.
• Great Britain — Ben Ainslie: always in contention when it comes to converting raw power into results.
• France — Quentin Delapierre: capable of brilliance, particularly comfortable when conditions get technical.

Outsiders like Canada's Phil Robertson or Germany's Erik Heil can play spoilers and slip into the final if the favorites stumble.

The Hidden Challenges of This Stop

Beyond the standings, Valencia poses concrete problems for technical teams.

The Valencia chop forces foil setting recalibration. A wrong angle and it's a "crash" — a brutal splashdown that costs several boat lengths in seconds. The flight controllers will be the key figures of the weekend.

The other constraint is logistical: the Geneva stop follows just two weeks later, on 19-20 September. No margin for major repairs. A serious collision in Valencia could jeopardize the next event — and with it, the trajectory toward the Grand Final.

Valencia, New Centre of Gravity

Combining a demanding race course, a fleet of thirteen F50s, the America's Cup legacy and a championship-winning home team, this inaugural Valencia edition concentrates all the ingredients of a major event. For Diego Botín and his teammates, it's a chance to confirm that Season 4 was no fluke. For the others, it's the perfect ground to overturn the hierarchy.

Find the complete 2026 SailGP season calendar on spencer.club.