LA speedfest

Thrilling speeds and action-packed entertainment are in store as SailGP takes to the water in the Port of Los Angeles for the inaugural Oracle Los Angeles Sail Grand Prix on 22 and 23 July 2023.

21 July 2023

Ten national teams, including the United States SailGP Team led by sailing legend Jimmy Spithill, will race F50 hydrofoiling catamarans, capable of highway speeds exceeding 60 mph, in a fan-focused, two-day spectacle of exhilarating racing.

Fans will be just a breath away from the challenging Outer Harbor racecourse at the Port of Los Angeles, with ticket packages available for grandstand seating at Berth 46, along with on-water viewing zones for privately-owned vessels.

Germany and Switzerland were the first two teams to hit the water on 19 July, ahead of the full 10-strong F50 fleet beginning practice on 20 July.

Official racing gets underway in earnest on 22 & 23 July. Five fleet races will be contested across Saturday and Sunday before the three-boat winner-takes-all on Sunday.

The Oracle Los Angeles Sail Grand Prix marks SailGP’s first visit to the city and will see the F50 fleet negotiate the tight racecourse of the Port of Los Angeles, as well as the thermal afternoon breezes of ‘Hurricane Gulch’, which could result in eye-watering speeds.

Germany is the latest nation to join the world's most exciting sail racing league.

The German team includes experienced sailors, such as double Olympic champion Kahena Kunze and grinder Jonathan Knottnerus-Meyer.

The Germany SailGP team is led by driver Erik Heil.

Switzerland SailGP driver Sébastien Schneiter is the youngest driver the series has had.

Switzerland has high expectations for Season 4.

The pressure is on Jimmy Spithill’s home team the United States to perform after a disappointing ninth-place finish in Chicago, while Erik Heil’s Germany will have the chance to test its mettle against the fleet for a second time.

New Zealand and Australia look set to compete for the top spot of the leaderboard, with just one point separating the Kiwis in first and the Aussies in second.

Following Los Angeles, SailGP will head across the Atlantic to begin the European leg of Season 4, kicking off with the France Sail Grand Prix | Saint-Tropez on 9 and 10 September.

The Oracle Los Angeles Sail Grand Prix will take place on 22 and 23 July, with racing scheduled between 4 pm to 5.30 pm PDT. Full broadcast information and How To Watch details here.

sailgp.com

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