ROCKWOOL France Sail Grand Prix: Red Bull Italy SailGp Team ready for the Saint Tropez challenge

The Rolex SailGP global circuit headsto Saint-Tropezfor the ninth event of Season 5. A location that needs no introduction: the beating heart of the French Riviera, a landmark in international sailing and home to prestigious regattas such as the Loro Piana Giraglia and Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez.

The ROCKWOOL France Sail Grand Prix is set for Friday 12 and Saturday 13 September, with twelve F50s battling for victory in one of the most striking natural race stadiums on the circuit, in front of grandstands already sold out – a clear sign of SailGP’s exponential growth worldwide.

The Red Bull Italy SailGP Team arrives in Saint-Tropez on an upward trajectory. After securing fifth place in Portsmouth and a challenging but valuable event in Sassnitz – a key step for building experience and refining onboard communication – the team continues its consolidation in a format that allows very little time for training outside of competition. While the crew had three full days of preparation in Germany, here in Saint-Tropez racing will begin straight after the practice sessions.
The Italian line-up features Ruggero Tita on the helm, Kyle Langford as wing trimmer, Andrea Tesei flight controller, Enrico Voltolini grinder 2, with Alex Sinclair and Brad Farrand rotating as grinder 1 during the day. At the strategist position, Maelle Frascari returns following a full recovery from a recent break, alongside Julia Gross, already part of the crew in Portsmouth and Sassnitz. The lineup is completed by coach Philippe Presti and data analyst Andrea Emone.

The race weekend was originally scheduled to be preceded by a day of practice races, with the fleet divided into two groups competing in three races each plus a qualifying final. However, the weather conditions forced a change of plan: the Mistral, expected with gusts of over 20 knots, led to the cancellation of the practice races.

Competition will therefore get underway directly on Friday, with four races on the opening day and all twelve F50s lined up on the same start line, delivering a show entirely in front of the on-site spectators. On Saturday, three more fleet races will follow along with the three-boat Grand Final,
where the first acrossthe line will claim the entire event and the iconic wheel, which on this occasion will be dressed in the colors of the French flag. Conditions are expected to improve, with the Mistral easing.

The F50s are foiling catamarans capable of speeds exceeding 100 km/h, delivering races of just ten to twelve minutes packed with speed, high-intensity maneuvers, and close-quarters duels. Ahead of the Saint-Tropez event, SailGP has also announced key steps forward in innovation, with the introduction of new high-performance rudders and the development of automated foil-protection software. Slimmer and more efficient in profile, the new rudders provide greater control at high speed and improved performance in light winds.

With twelve events on the calendar and the Grand Final scheduled for November in Abu Dhabi, SailGP continues its rise as a global platform for sport and innovation. In Saint-Tropez, everything is set for a weekend of spectacular racing, broadcast in Italy on Sky Sport and the SailGP YouTube channel. The first start is scheduled for Friday 12 September at 13:30 local time, with racing on Saturday 13 September starting at 12:30.