New centre to bolster boatbuilding, athlete training and apprenticeship development ahead of SailGP Portsmouth event
SailGP has officially launched a new technology and innovation hub in Southampton, UK, as it prepares for this weekend’s Emirates Great Britain Sail Grand Prix in Portsmouth.
The state-of-the-art facility, SailGP Technologies, will serve as the global racing league’s centre of excellence in engineering, design and high-performance boatbuilding.
It houses more than 100 specialists across fields such as composites, aerodynamics and hydraulics, and represents a US $10 million (£7.7 million) investment in the future of the Rolex SailGP Championship.
The Southampton base will take on an expanded role in the construction and maintenance of the championship’s signature F50 foiling catamarans, including boats 13 and 14. The new hub is located close to SailGP’s London headquarters and replaces the organisation’s previous manufacturing centre in New Zealand, which was closed in late 2023.
“This facility gives us greater control and resilience across the fleet,” said Joel Marginson, Director of SailGP Technologies.
“It enables faster turnaround of repairs, more consistent performance, and a reliable supply of spares while on tour. It’s a key step in future-proofing SailGP – ensuring we can deliver uncompromised high-performance racing, anywhere in the world.”
The opening also marks the launch of SailGP’s first apprenticeship programme in partnership with the South Hampshire College Group. The scheme will provide hands-on training to six emerging professionals in disciplines such as boatbuilding and composite engineering, with all participants based out of the Southampton facility.
Sir Russell Coutts, CEO and co-founder of SailGP, said the opening was a major milestone in the league’s development. “As we grow, it’s incredibly important to have fully integrated capabilities and expertise,” he said.
“This state-of-the-art facility will enable SailGP to remain at the very forefront of industry technology and innovation. Just as importantly, we’re committed to developing the next generation of boat building talent through our apprenticeship scheme.”
In addition to technical operations, the Southampton site will support off-water athlete development. SailGP said it is building a simulator suite as part of a forthcoming athlete training programme covering racing rules, safety, medical readiness, and role-specific coaching for new teams.
