Lots happening, as our Shipping & Sailing Correspondent Jean Hudson reports.
So much happening in the sailing scene – Australia to compete in the America’s Cup 2027, Sail GP returning to Fremantle next February, and Bonds Flying Roos will be doing their thing in New York on May 30.
AMERICA’S CUP
How exciting – Australia is returning to the America’s Cup, with the official announcement made on Thursday at the Royal Prince Edward Yacht Club.
The team confirmed that Olympic gold medallist and multiple foiling champion Tom Slingsby will take on the role of Head of Sailing, while three-time Cup winner Glenn Ashby has been appointed Head of Performance and Design. Grant Simmer, a key member of the famous 1983 Australia II campaign, will serve as Chief Executive Officer of Team Australia, while Tash Bryant was announced as the first Team Australia sailor.
Australia’s remarkable victory with Australia II in 1983 remains a defining moment in Australian sailing history. Since then, it has been 26 years since an Australian team has competed in the America’s Cup. Notably, Tash Bryant, who has been named as the first Team Australia sailor, will be 26 years old when she represents the nation at next year’s event—a coincidence that may be seen as a good omen for Australian sailing fans.
The team has purchased a design package from Emirates Team New Zealand, which includes the 2021 America’s Cup-winning AC75 hull. Work is already underway on the boat, with a new 2.7m bow section currently being built in Australia and almost ready to ship to Auckland. There will also be a new mast, sails, foils, control systems and plenty more development work involved.
Strong Australian results at World Championships by Australian crews produced several standout performances at the 49er, 49erFX and Nacra 17 World Championships in Quiberon, France.
Meanwhile, Australia’s ILCA squads are currently competing at the European Championships in Croatia.
SAILGP 2027
The 2027 SailGP Schedule has just been announced.
Hong Kong joins a 13-event calendar spanning Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, South America and the Middle East. San Francisco also makes its return after a season-long hiatus – a second confirmed SailGP event in the United States in 2027, and they are coming back to Freo in February 2027.
JAN 23-24 – Hong Kong Sail Grand Prix. FEB 2027 – Australia Sail Grand Prix | Perth. APR 3-4 – San Francisco Sail Grand Prix. MAY 1-2 – Apex Group Bermuda Sail Grand. MAY 15-16 – Canada Sail Grand Prix | Halifax. JUNE 5-6 – New York Sail Grand. JULY 24-25 – Emirates Great Britain Sail Grand Prix | Portsmouth. AUG 14-15 – Germany Sail Grand Prix | Sassnitz. SEP 4-5 – Spain Sail Grand Prix | Valencia. SEP 11-12 – Italy Sail Grand. OCT 9-10 – Enel Rio Sail Grand Prix. NOV 20-21 – Emirates Dubai Sail Grand Prix, presented by DP World. NOV / DEC TBC – Rolex SailGP Championship 2027 Season Grand Final.
The BONDS Flying Roos head to the Hudson River in New York’s Sail Grand Prix on May 30-31, 2026 as the championship’s dominant force after back to back event victories. Watch this space for race updates.
*By Jean Hudson. Jean is our Shipping and Sailing Correspondent and also a regular feature writer, reviewer and photographer here on the Shipping News. You may also like to follow up her informative Places I Love stories, as well as other feature stories and Freo Today photographs, right here.
~ If you’d like to COMMENT on this or any of our stories, don’t hesitate to email our Editor.
~ WHILE YOU’RE HERE –
PLEASE HELP US TO GROW FREMANTLE SHIPPING NEWS
FSN is a reader-supported, volunteer-assisted online magazine all about Fremantle. Thanks for helping to keep FSN keeping on!
