Sydney SailGP media accreditation opens  

Sydney – January 4, 2019 – With six weeks to go until SailGP inaugurates on Sydney Harbour, the media accreditation process has opened for the historic first event of the next generation of sailing.
 
Not only will Sydney SailGP mark the start of the revolutionary championship, but it will be the first look at the world’s fastest and most technologically advanced catamaran – the F50. It’s anticipated to break sailing’s elusive 50-knot speed barrier while on Sydney Harbour after launching in October 2018 in New Zealand.
 
Six rival national teams will share the starting line in Sydney on February 15 – the first time boats of this calibre and speed will be raced in a fleet format. Among the world-class teams will be the homegrown Australia SailGP Team, headed by Olympic gold medallist and America’s Cup winner Tom Slingsby, who will be seeking the opening victory on home soil.
 
Australia will be up against other formidable teams – equally loaded with Olympic medallists, world champions and America’s Cup competitors – from China, France, Great Britain, Japan and the United States.
 
Launched in October 2018 by Larry Ellison and Sir Russell Coutts, SailGP is an innovative approach to a history-rich sport, aiming to increase mainstream popularity and excite sailing’s next generation. The fan-centric championship will bring intense, inshore racing when it commences in Sydney, followed by San Francisco, New York, Cowes (U.K.) and Marseille (France), as world-class crews compete for the championship trophy and a US$1 million prize.
 
Sydney SailGP is Season 1’s first event, with official practice on February 14. Three fleet races will take place on Friday, February 15 from 4-6 p.m., followed by two additional fleet races and a match-race final between the two leading teams on Saturday, February 16 in the 3-5 p.m. window.
 
Sydney SailGP will feature a fully staffed media centre at the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron in North Sydney, press and photography boats, exclusive media tours of the team bases on Cockatoo Island (February 14 and 15), daily mixed-zone access and a variety of press conferences (schedule to be determined).