SailGP Opens Year-Round Training Base in Pensacola

SailGP has opened its first long-term training base at the American Magic High Performance Center in Pensacola, Florida, creating a year-round hub for its international fleet and athlete development.

The facility, which welcomed its first SailGP athletes and the F50 catamaran this week, is part of a multi-season agreement between SailGP and American Magic that runs through 2031.

“The SailGP Training Base is more than a facility — it is the infrastructure that enables the next phase of our growth. As a year-round high-performance hub, the training base allows our teams to invest in athlete development and progression, ultimately driving the long-term growth of our sport,” said Andrew Thompson, SailGP managing director. “Pensacola offers consistent conditions and a world-class setup that will allow our teams to test, train, and innovate continuously to ensure the racing on the water remains the most exciting in the world.”

The shared facility will enable multiple teams to train simultaneously, with centralized technical support, safety resources, and testing services. SailGP will manage scheduling to ensure equal access to reserved training blocks for all teams outside race weekends.

Under a pay-to-train model, teams will pay only for the days they use the facility. The first 10 training days will also fall outside the $10 million annual operating cap in team participation agreements.

“Having a dedicated facility like Pensacola to test, train, and innovate outside of race weekends will be a game changer for SailGP athletes,” said Dylan Fletcher, driver of the Emirates GBR SailGP Team. “Having this centralized base will undoubtedly raise the standard of racing and depth across the entire fleet.”

The opening also represents an investment in future talent, giving teams a dedicated environment to onboard and train new athletes while building roster depth.

Now in its sixth season, the Rolex SailGP Championship features 13 national teams competing at venues worldwide. The new training base is intended to support the league’s planned expansion of events and teams through 2030.

Photo: Blake Jones for SailGP