Men's Health October 3, 2025 0 Comments

Unlock the Untamed Power of SailGP: The High-Octane Water Race That’s Shaking Up the Sports World!

Ever wonder what it feels like when the world’s fastest sailboats tear through the waters of Spain at breakneck speed? Well, buckle up, because this weekend, SailGP is crashing into Cádiz for the last European showdown before the $2 million grand finale in Abu Dhabi. Picture this: sleek, 50-foot foiling catamarans that don’t just skim the water—they literally fly, hitting 60 mph with crews gripping the edge between adrenaline and disaster. It’s like Formula 1 on water, except here, six lives hang on every razor-sharp decision made at insane speeds. And speaking of sharp, if you think physical fitness is just for the gym, SailGP’s Australian Team Captain Tom Slingsby proves otherwise—staying cool under pressure is the real game changer. With Hollywood star power backing the “Bonds Flying Roos” and national pride on the line, this racing season-long circuit is more than a sport; it’s a full-throttle, muscle-powered spectacle where split-second calls decide victory or defeat. Ready to dive in? LEARN MORE

THE WORLD’S FASTEST sailboats are about to tear through Spain. This Saturday and Sunday, SailGP will storm into Cádiz for the final European stop of the season, with Rolex (the league’s official timepiece partner) helping set the stage. It’s the last chance for teams to sharpen their blades before the $2 million finals in Abu Dhabi on November 29.

If you’ve never watched SailGP, think of it as Formula 1 on water. Crews race identical 50-foot foiling catamarans that fly above the surface and hit speeds up to 60 mph. The races are short, furious, and filled with near crashes.

“You’ve got six people’s lives in your hands every time you’re out there,” Tom Slingsby, Australia SailGP’s Team Captain, tells Men’s Health. “The speeds are insane, the risks are real, but that’s what makes it so addictive—for us and for the fans.”

The league is also getting a jolt of Hollywood muscle. This past summer, Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds became co-owners of Australia’s team, aka the “Bonds Flying Roos.” But the real star power comes from driver Slingsby, an Olympic gold medalist who’s built the Aussies into a dynasty with three SailGP titles, and made them the team everyone else is chasing.

Most sailing events come and go in a weekend. SailGP is a season-long world tour. National teams including Australia, Spain, the U.S., New Zealand, and Great Britain race across Sydney, San Francisco, and New York that ends with the winner-takes-all championship (and $2 million) in Abu Dhabi. Each stop packs two days of racing: fleet heats set the stage before the top three square off in the final round.

Slingsby says the biggest challenge isn’t brute force but being sharp under pressure. “As a driver, I don’t have to be the fittest guy on the boat,” he says. “But I’ve found I make much better decisions when I’m fit. My heart rate might hit 150 (beats per minute) in a race. If I can keep it closer to 130, I’ll make clearer calls. At these speeds, that split second makes all the difference.”

Australia currently leads the standings with 76 points, but Spain and other teams are snapping at their heels. The battles play out on 50-foot catamarans that have no engines, just wind power and raw muscle. Crews use grinders to generate the hydraulic power needed to trim sails and lift the boats onto their foils, where they literally fly above the water.

“Our grinders are the big guys who live in the gym and work hard every second of a race,” Slingsby says. “My job is different: I just have to be fast across the boat and make the right calls. If I’m sharp and they’re powering, that’s when we win.”

How to Watch SailGP

Unless you’re booking a last-minute flight to Spain, you’re probably catching the action from home. In the U.S., every race streams on the SailGP app, CBS Sports Network, and YouTube.

Stream SailGP on CBS

Mark Stock is a writer from Portland, Oregon who covers food, drink, travel, culture, outdoors, gear, and tech. He’s formally trained in journalism but stumbled into the wine industry just when it was getting good and can’t seem to fully let it go. His outlets are many, from Men’s Health, Women’s Health, and The Manual to Vinepair, SevenFifty Daily, Sip Northwest, and others He’s a devout soccer fan and thinks about Iceland daily.