Sail Grand Prix, an international sailing competition often referred to as SailGP, is coming to Chicago’s Navy Pier on June 18 and 19. This event will be SailGP’s first ever race on Lake Michigan, providing the groundbreaking event with a fabulous backdrop of the city skyline. Mark your calendars and experience a weekend of speed and thrills as Chicago kicks off the start of summer at the legendary Navy Pier.
See Also: Cruise Across Hawaii, the Caribbean and Central America with New Seabourn Luxury Voyages
Over the two days, nine national teams will race identical F50 catamarans — cutting-edge, hydrodynamic vessels capable of exceeding 60 mph speeds. The F50 is a highly optimized adaptation of an older boat, boasting new control systems and modular wingsails.
View this post on Instagram
The U.S. Sail Grand Prix in Chicago will be the second event of their third season, which entails an 11-event championship series. Events will take place between 3:00 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday.
Each day within this time frame, the SailGP athletes will compete in three races. The first three will be fleet races, while the second day will consist of two fleet races and an exciting match race final.
Tom Slingsby's Australia team is the reigning champion of SailGP. The team holds two championship titles, one from the previous 2021-2022 season and one from 2019, which was the inaugural season. Since no competitions took place during the height of the pandemic in 2020 and 2021, the Australian team is still the only nation that has brought home a Sail Grand Prix title.
View this post on Instagram
One of the athletes on SailGP’s United States team, Rome Kirby, has previously raced in Chicago many times as an America’s Cup competitor. “Lake Michigan is a natural arena, and it’s incredible to see and hear the crowds cheering from on shore and on water. It’s so motivating to have the hometown crowd support, and we are hoping to bring home a win for the U.S. here in Chicago,” Kirby said, according to SailGP’s website.
View this post on Instagram
For an on-water experience, official spectator boats will offer the closest vantage point to the racing and allow fans an unrivaled view of high-speed events on Lake Michigan. Similarly, spectators can bring their own watercraft as part of the “Bring Your Own Boat” program.
Additionally, SailGP will offer several different waterfront experience packages to take in the events from Navy Pier.
Ready to dive into the world of competitive, fast-paced sailing? Get a head start on the competition’s festivities at their tailgate party on Thursday, June 16. There will be live music from band Sixteen Candles, DJ Metro and event swag. Guests will party in the “pit lane” of the venue. Tickets for the tailgate can be purchased here.
View this post on Instagram
For more information about the weekend of events, go to www.sailgp.com. Tickets for SailGP can be purchased here.
Photography by: John Bell / Unsplash.com
