ORGANISERS of next year’s Sail Grand Prix in Fremantle say the event could bring in up to $55 million for Fremantle if the event goes to plan.
Last month, SailGP announced the inaugural Perth Grand Prix, which will feature team from all over the world racing 50-foot catamarans around the Fremantle waterfront including Bathers Beach.
The event will be held in Freo for at least three years, according to the SailGP contract.
• The 2023 SailGP finals in San Francisco. Photo by Gregory Varnum via Wikimedia Commons
Paid off
SailGP managing director Andrew Thompson says the competition will be a “tentpole” event for Freo, which has historically paid off for other host cities.
“SailGP events are increasingly delivering return value to host cities year on year,” Mr Thompson said.
“In 2025, the New Zealand SailGP in Auckland delivered an economic impact of $35.9 million USD [$55 million AUD] and dedicated TV audience of 16.9 million, as well as over 20,000 visitor nights for the host city.
“We anticipate that the Perth SailGP will deliver in these areas for WA in 2026 and long into the future.”
Fremantle will be the first stop in the Sail GP which will also visit Sydney, New York, Rio de Janeiro, and Saint-Tropez.
“As we continue to move towards a consistent, regionalised format with the SailGP season now starting the Asia Pacific region, opening next season in Perth allows us to take advantage of ideal weather conditions that make for even more consistent, exciting racing,” Mr Thompson said.
Fremantle mayor Hannah Fitzhardinge says the event will be “fantastic” for Freo when it arrives on our shores next year, saying she’s expecting “huge crowds” as mirrored in Sydney and Auckland.
“Fremantle is known around the world as a brilliant sailing destination… this is an exciting opportunity for the people of Perth to experience world-class, adrenalin fuelled racing on water,” Ms Fitzhardinge said.
“We’re looking forward to working with all of the event partners to produce a weekend of exhilarating sailing entertainment in January next year, and the following two years.”
by KATHERINE KRAAYVANGER