The ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix kicked off in Auckland with over 10,000 fans witnessing thrilling races featuring high-tech foiling catamarans. SailGP is gaining popularity as a professional sailing league, blending speed and excitement akin to Formula 1.
Key points
ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix opened in Auckland
Over 10,000 fans attended the event
Races feature 50-foot foiling catamarans
Doug DeVos bought Rockwool Racing team for $60 million
SailGP is likened to Formula 1 on water
Mentioned in this story
Rockwool RacingDoug DeVosDS Automobiles
ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix
It’s opening day of the ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix in Auckland. More than 10,000 ticketed fans line the shoreline’s stadium bleachers as 13 high-tech 50-foot foiling catamarans careen into the race’s first turn at 55 mph. This is Formula 1 on water—full speed with elbows out, crashes included. Suddenly, the home-country athletes aboard the Black Foils boat lose steering and veer sharply into the path of the French DS Automobiles team. For many fans, the collision is a dramatic introduction to SailGP—the hottest show at sea.
“It’s exciting, fun, fast, and dynamic,” says Doug DeVos, the league’s newest owner. In February, the investor and his American Magic sailing-management group bought the Danish Rockwool Racing team for $60 million. As part of the family that owns the N.B.A.’s Orlando Magic, a supporter of recent America’s Cup campaigns, and a champion sailor himself, DeVos believes SailGP has finally cracked the professional-league model—something one of the world’s oldest sports has never done before. “To see what SailGP has been able to accomplish, to repeat it, and now become part of the established sporting world is really encouraging,” he says.
The ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix is a premier sailing event featuring high-tech foiling catamarans racing at high speeds, attracting thousands of fans.
Who owns the Rockwool Racing team in SailGP?
The Rockwool Racing team in SailGP is owned by Doug DeVos, who purchased it for $60 million.
How fast do the catamarans race in SailGP?
The catamarans in SailGP can reach speeds of up to 55 mph during races.
Why is SailGP compared to Formula 1?
SailGP is compared to Formula 1 due to its high-speed races, competitive nature, and dramatic incidents, making it an exciting spectacle on water.
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United States SailGP Team helmed by Taylor Canfield ahead of Los Gallos SailGP Team helmed by Diego Botin and Artemis SailGP Team helmed by Nathan Outteridge, on Race Day 2 of the ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix in Auckland, New Zealand. Sunday 15 February 2026. Rolex SailGP Championship Event 2 2026 Season. Photo: James Gourley for SailGP. Handout image supplied by SailGP
United States SailGP Team helmed by Taylor Canfield ahead of Los Gallos SailGP Team helmed by Diego Botin and Artemis SailGP Team helmed by Nathan Outteridge, on Race Day 2 of the ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix in Auckland, New Zealand. Sunday 15 February 2026. Rolex SailGP Championship Event 2 2026 Season. Photo: James Gourley for SailGP. Handout image supplied by SailGP
DeVos joins an eclectic mix of owners, including high-roller consortia, venture capitalists, entertainers, and celebrities. Among them: Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds, new co-owners of the Australian team Bonds Flying Roos. The U.S. SailGP Team has deep pockets and star power, too, with actress Issa Rae, soccer standout Jozy Altidore, and tech entrepreneur Ryan McKillen counted as backers. The league’s blossoming portfolio of commercial partners adds further momentum. National teams have sponsors ranging from Deutsche Bank to Red Bull, while Rolex is the founding title partner, alongside Mubadala, DP World, Emirates, and, crucially, Oracle.
Oracle cofounder and executive chairman Larry Ellison—himself a former sailing champion—launched SailGP in 2018 with Russell Coutts, now the league’s de facto commissioner. Few expected the venture to outlast Ellison’s willingness to bankroll it. Yet now, in its sixth season, 11 of the 13 teams are privately owned, with valuations rising from an initial $5 million to the eight-figure price DeVos reportedly paid.
The 13-race series continues to expand, with events in Europe, the Middle East, the southern hemisphere, and, in late May, New York Harbor. Also adding serious credibility are the season’s $12.8 million prize purse as well as the growing broadcast footprint across CBS and Paramount Global networks. “The Race to Abu Dhabi” at the end of the fifth season drew more than 3 million viewers—what SailGP calls the most-watched sailing race in history.
BONDS Flying Roos SailGP Team helmed by Tom Slingsby in action on Race Day 2 of the Oracle Perth Sail Grand Prix presented by KPMG in Perth, Australia. Sunday 18 January 2026. Rolex SailGP Championship Event 1 2026 Season. Photo: Ricardo Pinto for SailGP. Handout image supplied by SailGP
BONDS Flying Roos SailGP Team helmed by Tom Slingsby in action on Race Day 2 of the Oracle Perth Sail Grand Prix presented by KPMG in Perth, Australia. Sunday 18 January 2026. Rolex SailGP Championship Event 1 2026 Season. Photo: Ricardo Pinto for SailGP. Handout image supplied by SailGP
The league’s identical F50 catamarans bristle with carbon fiber and technology, each wired to the Oracle Cloud. Dozens of onboard cameras capture the action during tight high-speed duels, while sensors stream more than 35,000 data points per second to onshore coaches. Some of those metrics are available to fans worldwide.
“It’s got national teams, it’s done well, and there are events every couple of weeks,” says Gary Jobson, longtime sailing commentator for ESPN and NBC. Once a skeptic, Jobson is now a believer. “There’s a season, which gives people something to follow. They’re exciting races, and they’re short,” he notes. “But the best thing about it is we get to see sailing on television, which is rare these days.”
The traveling series is certainly a spectacle. For DeVos, ownership will come with a learning curve, especially with his team currently mired in the middle of the pack. “That’s kind of purgatory,” he says. “You’re just stuck.” Still, he’s prepared to draw from his N.B.A. experience, likening the rhythm to an 82-game basketball season. “If you have a bad regatta, you have a chance to get back on your horse again pretty soon,” he says. “It keeps everyone fresh and engaged.”
