SailGP is proud to announce a new era in its long-term partnership with Rolex, welcoming the Swiss watchmaker onboard as the first Title Partner for the global racing championship. The Rolex SailGP Championship is the world’s leading sailing series where the best male and female sailors compete together on identical supercharged foiling catamarans.
Rolex’s legacy in sailing began in 1958 when it first partnered with the New York Yacht Club and it now extends to the world’s greatest organisations, competitions and athletes. Rolex has supported SailGP since its inception in 2019, recognising the ambitious sailing, equality and sustainability journey of the series, both on and off the water.
“For almost a century, Rolex has been synonymous with achievement across the world’s most iconic sports, including nearly 70 years of involvement with sailing. SailGP is a trailblazer, representing precision, teamwork and innovative technology. Since the series’ inception, Rolex has celebrated the journey of the sport and its athletes, marked by exceptional performance, incredible milestones and powerful emotions, both on and off the water. We are thrilled to deepen our support as Title Partner and celebrate the success of SailGP, reinforcing our shared vision to push boundaries and inspire future generations,” said Arnaud Boetsch, Director of Communication & Image at Rolex.
Rolex champions sailors who embody adaptability, teamwork and precision to harness innovative technologies alongside mother nature; these multi-talented athletes and ocean advocates reflect the drive for excellence and team spirit that defines Rolex and SailGP. Rolex’s family of celebrated sailors in SailGP, includes Sir Ben Ainslie, Hannah Mills and Tom Slingsby.
“SailGP’s focus on opportunity though promoting greater diversity and gender inclusivity is as important as the racing on the water and the sustainability initiatives. It is making the sport accessible to more people through the ground-breaking Women’s Pathway and the Inspire programme,” said Hannah Mills, Rolex sailing Testimonee, Strategist for the SailGP Great Britain team and the most successful female sailor in Olympic history.
Rolex and SailGP are united by a quest for best-in-class competition and a shared commitment to progress on and off-water, creating a legacy for the next generation. While the thrilling racing embraces innovation and teamwork, the series’ philanthropic efforts make it a unique sporting property with sustainability and community at its core.
“SailGP is revolutionising the way we think about sport. The league’s commitment to sustainability and the environment is remarkable. When I was first invited to join, I was immediately impressed by the vision of a global, sustainable racing circuit that could elevate the profile of sailing while benefitting the planet,” said Hannah Mills.
The Rolex SailGP Championship will be integrated across all aspects of the SailGP ecosystem redesigned to create a more immersive and informative viewing experience for fans watching online. The partnership also includes a suite of updated broadcast graphics across SailGP’s Emmy award-winning LiveLine, course maps, turning marks, and other live features. The new-look championship marque will also make its debut on all SailGP digital channels – web, social and the SailGP app – with additional branding elevating the event experience, providing a premium, cohesive aesthetic to the Race Stadium at Mina Rashid and across the calendar.
The first round of the 2025 season was held last weekend in Dubai, where the Great Britain team finished second overall behind New Zealand with Australia, captained by fellow Rolex Testimonee Tom Slingsby, finishing in fifth. The Australia SailGP Team established itself as a dominant force by winning three consecutive SailGP Championship titles in Seasons 1–3, earning a reputation as the team to beat in the F50 fleet.
SailGP is broadcast in 212 territories around the world. Visit SailGP’s How to Watch webpage to find out how to access these broadcasts. Or if you are in Sydney, why not experience these world class vessels and athletes live on Sydney Harbour!? Tickets for SailGP Sydney, which is being held on the 8-9 February 2025, are available here.
Photographs provided by Rolex.