The countdown is on. With just one month to go until SailGP returns to the waters off Portsmouth, Emirates Great Britain SailGP Team stars Dylan Fletcher and Hannah Mills are ramping up anticipation for what promises to be one of the standout events on the 2026 sailing calendar.
The Royal Yachting Association has partnered with the British team to deliver an exclusive edition of The Inside Tack Show, offering RYA members and affiliated clubs a behind-the-scenes look at life inside one of the most high-octane racing series in the world. The special episode features candid insights from Fletcher and Mills, two of the most decorated sailors in British history, as they prepare to race on home waters in front of thousands of spectators lining the Southsea seafront.
A Homecoming for British Sailing’s Biggest Names
Dylan Fletcher, who claimed Olympic gold in the 49er class at Tokyo 2020 alongside Stuart Bithell, has become one of the defining figures of the SailGP era. His aggressive, instinctive style of racing has translated seamlessly into the world of foiling F50 catamarans, and the Portsmouth event represents a chance to perform in front of the home crowd that has watched his career evolve from youth dinghy racing to the pinnacle of professional sailing.
Hannah Mills, the most successful female Olympic sailor of all time with gold at Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 in the 470 class, brings a different dimension to the Emirates Great Britain operation. Since transitioning into SailGP, Mills has been a powerful advocate for sustainability and inclusion in the sport while proving herself as a fierce competitor in the high-performance racing environment. Her involvement in The Inside Tack Show underscores the depth of talent and leadership within the British team.
Portsmouth: SailGP’s Spiritual Home in the UK
Portsmouth has established itself as one of the most iconic venues on the SailGP calendar. The Solent’s challenging tidal conditions, combined with the natural amphitheatre created by the seafront and the historic dockyard backdrop, make it a uniquely compelling racecourse. Crowds have grown steadily since SailGP first raced in the city, and the event has become a flagship moment for sailing’s engagement with mainstream sports fans in the United Kingdom.
The F50 catamarans, capable of speeds exceeding 50 knots, provide a spectacle unlike anything else in sailing. Racing takes place close to shore, ensuring fans onshore and in the spectator fleet experience the full intensity of fleet racing at the highest level. For the British team, the pressure of performing at home adds an extra edge to an already fierce competition.
The Inside Tack Show: Behind the Scenes Access
The RYA’s exclusive edition of The Inside Tack Show is designed to give members a privileged window into the preparation, strategy, and teamwork that goes into a SailGP campaign. Fletcher and Mills take viewers inside the team’s operations, from boat handling and data analysis to the physical demands of racing foiling catamarans in close-quarters fleet racing.
For RYA members and clubs, the episode represents a tangible connection between grassroots sailing and the elite professional circuit. The RYA has long championed the pathway from club racing to international competition, and initiatives like this reinforce that link by making top-level sailing accessible and relatable.
Building Toward a Crucial Event
As the 2026 SailGP season intensifies, every Grand Prix carries significant weight in the championship standings. The Portsmouth event will be closely watched not only for its sporting drama but also for what it reveals about Emirates Great Britain’s trajectory in a fiercely competitive fleet that includes the likes of Australia, New Zealand, and the United States.
With Fletcher’s tactical prowess and Mills’s champion mentality leading the charge, British fans have every reason to circle the date on their calendars. The Solent awaits, and the stage is set for another memorable chapter in SailGP’s British story.
