Rolex SailGP - Freo Completely Abuzz As Racing Looms

SailGP’s Freo racing weekend is about to explode at Bathers Beach. FSN were there today to see just how the preparations are going. We can report there’s an America’s Cup like buzz in the air. And we were lucky enough to snag a podcast interview with Sir Russell Coutts, famed New Zealand sailor and co-founder and CEO of SailGP, that you’ll find at the foot of this post.

If you are one of the nearly 15,000 folk who have been lucky enough to lasso a ticket to SailGP at Bathers Beach, Fremantle over the next two days, let me tell you, you are in for a treat.

Not just the Bathers Beach area, but the whole of Freo is completely abuzz. Folk who remember, say they haven’t felt anything like it since the 1987 America’s Cup phenomenon nearly 40 years ago. And if anything, this is even more exciting. For starters, you can actually see the boats from the shore and the viewing from the grandstands is superb. But you can also watch the racing from the comfort of your own living room, including on free to air SBS starting at 1 pm Freo time, each day!

At a Presser this morning I got to hear all the head honchos and some of the top sailors waxing lyrical about the weekend racing challenges. Sir Russell Coutts, co-founder with Oracle’s Larry Ellison of SailGP, spoke. Then John Carey, State Minister, waved the flag obo the State Government who have helped big time to get this event for the State. Then we heard from the sailors who make these boats fairly foil and fly. They couldn’t stop talking about the Freo Doctor.

A little later I was talking with Dr Ed Fethers, the real Freo doctor, who knows a thing or three about sailing and has his own regular radio show on Sport 91.3 FM talking about sailing. Ed reckons the Freo venue and the conditions are second to none for serious sailors and Bathers Beach is the perfect seaside and townside setting for the racing. He also reminds me to tell everyone who’s planning on being in Freo for SailGP over the weekend to come to town early and soak up the atmosphere.

He also says, if you think you might like to park your car roundabout, you won’t find it easy finding a park. You’d be well advised to come by train, bus or share ride. Totally. Leave the car at home!

I spent the early afternoon after the Presser at the Media Hub above Bathers Beachhouse watching 12 of the 13 boats practice racing. What a sight. There are meant to be 13 boats in the event, but after a mishap yesterday the Spanish boat Los Gallos is now docked for repairs. The Spanish boys who wandered into the Media Hub just as I was departing looked downhearted beyond description. They’ll now have to wait until Auckland, the next SailGP league destination this season, before Sydney, to fly their flag.

Sir Russell Coutts

If you’re wondering, as I was, just how SailGP came to be co-founded by legendary NZ sailor Sir Russell Coutts and Oracle software co-founder Larry Ellison, you will be pleased to learn Sir Russell kindly sat down with me to explain. You’ll find my short podcast with Sir Russell Coutts below. Further proof, if proof be needed, that many good things come out of New Zealand, not just Crowded House, Marlborough Sav Blancs and The Brokenwood Mysteries now streaming on Netflix!

Btw, SailGP is here for the next 2 years as well. Judging from what FSN has seen and heard and experienced to date, ‘we’ should make sure we sign them up for the next 10 years, at least? Those who are paid to estimate these things believe as much as $55 million will flow to the local economy from the event in 2026. There’s no doubt Freo’s hotels and other accomodation are fully booked and restaurants, cafes and bars are expecting busy times.

And I’m sure SailGP will think it’s a good idea too, as Freo has the perfect, world-class setting for this exciting spectator friendly event!

So, onwards and upwards to the weekend’s racing.

*By Michael Barker, Editor, Fremantle Shipping News. Photographs by Jean Hudson.

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