Leigh McMillan returns to DS Automobiles SailGP Team France

DS Automobiles SailGP Team France returns to action this weekend at the Emirates Great Britain Sail Grand Prix in Portsmouth, the eighth event of the 2026 Rolex SailGP Championship. Racing on the iconic Solent in front of the Southsea Common grandstands, all 13 national teams will launch the European leg of the season.
Currently sixth in the championship standings on 33 points, the French team remains firmly in contention for a place in the Grand Final. The Portsmouth event also marks the return of wing trimmer Leigh McMillan, several months after suffering a shoulder injury in the Auckland incident and undergoing surgery.

The weekend will also strengthen the links between DS Automobiles SailGP Team France and the K-Challenge Akademy. Having joined the programme earlier this year, rising French sailing talent Margaux Billy will take part in SailGP's Women's Pathway Trial, giving her a first taste of the championship environment.

Leigh McMillan begins his return to the team

After several months of rehabilitation following the Auckland incident, Leigh McMillan rejoins DS Automobiles SailGP Team France in Portsmouth.

As with Manon Audinet's progressive return earlier this season, the British wing trimmer will use the event to reconnect with the team, take part in training sessions and continue his return-to-sailing programme aboard the F50.

Enzo Balanger will retain the wing trimmer role for this Sail Grand Prix. After successfully stepping in for McMillan at the New York and Halifax events, the reigning World Champion and newly crowned European Moth Champion continues to gain invaluable experience at the highest level of the sport. His continued selection reflects both the confidence placed in the young French sailor and the strength of the athlete development pathway established by the K-Challenge Akademy.

Leigh McMillan, Wing Trimmer – DS Automobiles SailGP Team France:

"I'm really excited to be back with the team this weekend. It's been a long road since Auckland, so it's great to be back in the SailGP environment. Hopefully I'll be able to get back on the boat and see how my shoulder is progressing. If I get the opportunity to race, that would be an amazing step forward in my recovery."

Portsmouth: one of sailing's most iconic venues

Following a sold-out debut in 2025, SailGP returns to Portsmouth for what promises to be another spectacular event. Racing on the legendary Solent, between the Isle of Wight and England's south coast, the fleet will compete just metres from thousands of fans lining Southsea Common.

Regarded as one of the world's great sailing venues, the Solent is renowned for its powerful tidal currents, short steep chop and highly variable wind conditions. Depending on the wind direction, crews can face dramatically different race scenarios, making Portsmouth one of the most technical and tactically demanding venues on the SailGP calendar.

For DS Automobiles SailGP Team France, the objective will be to build on the progress made during the opening half of the season and close the gap to the teams currently leading the championship.

Margaux Billy takes her first steps into SailGP through the Women's Pathway

Alongside the racing, SailGP will host its Women's Pathway Trial in Portsmouth, a programme designed to identify, develop and accelerate the progression of female athletes towards racing roles aboard the F50.

The initiative aligns perfectly with the mission of the K-Challenge Akademy, which is dedicated to identifying and developing the next generation of French sailing talent. Selected for the Akademy this season, Margaux Billy will take part in the programme, gaining first-hand experience of SailGP's sporting, technical and high-performance environment.

The experience represents an important milestone in her development and will provide valuable exposure to the demands of elite competition. Throughout the event, Billy will also serve as reserve strategist for Manon Audinet, ready to step into the racing crew if required.

The K-Challenge Akademy continues to develop the next generation

In Portsmouth, Margaux Billy takes over the role of reserve strategist from fellow Akademy athlete Amélie Riou.

Riou is currently competing in the Sailing Grand Slam in Los Angeles with the French Olympic Sailing Team as part of her preparation and familiarisation with the future Olympic sailing venue.

Together, these opportunities highlight the Akademy's ambition to provide young sailors with complementary experiences across the world's most demanding circuits, building bridges between Olympic sailing, foiling and SailGP while preparing the next generation of French high-performance athletes.

Building stability and staying in the championship fight

After a first half of the season shaped by several enforced crew changes, the return of Leigh McMillan represents another important step towards restoring stability within the French squad.

Currently sitting inside the championship's top six, DS Automobiles SailGP Team France heads to Portsmouth determined to continue its momentum, strengthen its crew cohesion and close the gap in the race for a place in the 2026 Rolex SailGP Grand Final.

Racing takes place on Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 July 2026.