Popular Perth beach to host Sail Grand Prix for first time
Luring the Sail Grand Prix championship west for the first time will give West Australians a once in 40-year chance to rekindle a nostalgic love affair with sailing off Fremantle, according to Americas Cup legend John Longley.
The annual championship takes place in major cities across the world including New York and Saint-Tropez and for the next three years, Fremantle as well.
'We are absolutely delighted, I honestly don't think Perth and Fremantle will realise how huge this event is until they see it next year,' Mr Longley told PerthNow.
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'This is a major event and a huge number of eyeballs watch these events, it is going to be fantastic for Fremantle and for Perth.
'It is easily comparable with the Formula One, it will be like the America's Cup revisited.'
Called the PerthSail Grand Prix, the new Australian leg will take place over two days with a minimum of three 15-minute races per day and a showdown between the three highest-scoring teams.
It is expected SailGP will attract thousands of overseas tourists to WA next January. Spectators will be able to watch the event from a purpose-built grandstand. Australia II crew members John Longley and Skip Lissiman in Fremantle. Credit: Jackson Flindell / The West Australian
The event will also return to WA in 2027 and 2028 as part of a three-year deal.
SailGP is one of the world's most fast-paced and prestigious sailing events, featuring 50-foot catamarans raced by teams from 12 nations close to the shoreline and at speeds of more than 100km/h.
Fremantle mayor Hannah Fitzhardinge heaped praise on Mr Longley, a veteran of five campaigns for the America's Cup including Australia II's breakthrough victory in 1983, and another local legend from the victorious 1983 crew Skip Lissiman, who through the Warren Jones Foundation had lobbied hard for Fremantle's inclusion.
'Fremantle is known around the world as a brilliant sailing destination and sailing is a sport that's close to our hearts,' she said.
'This is an exciting opportunity for the people of Perth to experience world-class, adrenalin-fuelled racing on water. The speeds at which these boats go is mind-blowing.
'We saw the huge crowds that flocked to Sydney Harbour for the SailGP race there earlier this year. If that's anything to go by, the atmosphere at Bathers Beach/Manjaree will be electric.'
Mr Longley said the Warren Jones Foundation had always wanted to bring another prestigious event to Fremantle and carry on the port city's sailing legacy.
'SailGP has always been interested in Fremantle but Sydney has had an exclusive deal with them which ended in 2025,' he said.
'To bring a top event to Fremantle has always been our priority, the great advantage of this event is the boats sail right in close, people will almost feel like they can touch them.'
Australian Sailing chief executive Ben Houston said WA deserved a chance to watch the Australian SailGP team — which he called the most successful team in the history of the competition — up close.
'It is a fitting reward for Perth. Western Australia has long been a hotbed of Australian sailing talent, with some of our greatest Australian sailors learning their craft on the Swan River and out in the Indian Ocean,' he said.
'We know that the Sydney SailGP event brings in approximately $20 million in economic impact per event, with thousands of visitors attending the two-day race weekend.
'The event broadcast will also see Fremantle beamed into households around the world, as happened with the Sydney event which attracted a dedicated global TV audience of 21.1 million.'
Fremantle Sailing Club executive officer Craig Evans said the local sailing community was pumped.
'It's such exciting news. With a very active local sailing community everyone will be thrilled with the announcement,' Mr Evans said.
'SailGP will provide a great opportunity to showcase Fremantle and our pristine coastal waters to the world.'
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