SailGP has established its first long-term training base at the state-of-the-art American Magic performance and innovation center, which officially opened today in Pensacola, Florida.
Set to provide SailGP teams access to world-class facilities that support year-round performance and innovation, the partnership brings together SailGP and American Magic – two leaders in elite sail racing – to accelerate training, technical development and next generation talent.
Pensacola will serve as American Magic’s first permanent base, as well as a North American training hub for SailGP teams — beginning in September 2026 as part of a multi-season agreement through to the end of 2031.
“Today’s news marks an exciting next chapter for SailGP and our competing teams," said SailGP CEO and co-founder Sir Russell Coutts. "With access to world-class training and facilities, our athletes can continue to develop year-round – bolstering competition and ensuring we continue to attract and retain the very best in the sport.”
“Pensacola’s selection reflects its growing importance as a high-performance sailing hub, offering world-class facilities, consistent conditions and a central base for SailGP in the United States. We’re delighted to work alongside our partners at American Magic on this bold new venture.”
American Magic co-founder Doug DeVos said the American Magic High Performance Centre was the foundation of the organisation's long-term vision to build a sustainable, high-performance American sailing platform.
"By positioning Pensacola and the U.S. as a destination for world-class training, we strengthen our ability to support sailors across youth, women, Olympic, and SailGP programs," DeVos said.
The Pensacola training base will operate as a shared, centrally coordinated facility, with the league managing scheduling to ensure fair, consistent access for all teams. SailGP teams will be able to train at the facility throughout the season, with on-water and shore support centralized alongside technical specialists, safety resources and other dedicated facilities and services provided by American Magic.
Designed to support year-round preparation, the base will allow SailGP teams to test, train and innovate outside of race weekends as the championship continues to scale globally. All teams will train under the same operating standards, reinforcing the league’s commitment to sporting fairness and competitive integrity. SailGP teams will access the facility on a pay-to-train model, paying only for the days they use under a consistent structure designed to ensure fairness and managed access.
The news comes ahead of the Rolex SailGP Championship’s 2026 Season debut next weekend in Perth, Australia. The largest-ever fleet will hit the startline – 13 international teams – competing across two action-packed days of racing, January 17-18, 2026.
It’s been sailing’s worst kept secret for the past several months, but it has now been formally confirmed that Australia is returning to the America’s Cup for the first time in 26 years.
An independent subscriber-supported website, newsletter, and podcast. Featuring exclusive stories and interviews about Grand Prix sailboat racing. Subscribe to receive our free email newsletter. Get full access with a paid subscription.
Subscribe for free to receive our email newsletter.
