SailGP Returns to San Francisco — April 2025

SailGP came back to San Francisco this April, wrapping up another leg of their global racing series right here on the Bay. There were 12 national teams this season — including the U.S., Australia, Spain, Germany, and Canada — racing high-performance foiling catamarans through tight courses between Alcatraz and the cityfront.

We took out a Beneteau 31.1 for the day. It started off with light wind, and for a while we weren’t sure we’d get much sailing in. But things picked up nicely, and we had a solid run before dropping sails and motoring over toward the race perimeter. The course was right between Alcatraz and the city, and we cruised along the edge of the spectator boundary with a great view of the action.

A couple of intense moments stood out — one was when the Australian team’s mast failed mid-race — we were pretty close when it happened. When the race finished up, we were still motoring with the sail down, over near the Bay Bridge, just kind of drifting along, and a few of the boats came flying right by us on their way back to port. They weren’t racing at that point, but they were still moving fast. I caught it on video, and it’s pretty wild.

Please check out my Instagram reel that shows highlights from the day that captures the sailing, the race, and a few close-up moments as the teams passed by.

Catching SailGP from the water gives you a whole different feel for the race. You’re not just watching — you’re surrounded by it. Between the course layout, the speed of the boats, and how close you can get, it’s a pretty unforgettable way to see it.

Something to Know

If you’re thinking about watching SailGP from the water, keep in mind when you get close to the race perimeter, it’s strongly advised to have your sails down. There are a lot of spectator boats in tight quarters, and it’s way too deep to anchor in that area, so you’ll be motoring and maneuvering the whole time. Definitely keep your head on a swivel — there’s a lot going on out there.

No Boat? No Problem

If you’re not skippering your own or jumping on a bareboat charter, you can still get on the water — whether it's for the next time SailGP comes to San Francisco, or just any time you want to experience the Bay by sail. From crewed charters to sightseeing sails, there are plenty of ways to catch the wind.

👉 Check Out Sailing Charters in San Francisco

Written by Tyler, founder of Globetroves™
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Posted June 2025