Emirates GBR have become the first team to put SailGP's new year-round training base through its paces, kicking off off-calendar sessions in Pensacola, Florida as the Grand Final contenders sharpen their form ahead of next month's Emirates Dubai Sail Grand Prix.
The move follows the arrival of the league's dedicated training F50 at the facility last week. Based at the American Magic High Performance Center, the site will now serve as a year-round training hub for the entire F50 fleet and its athletes.
Six teams, including Emirates GBR, already have sessions booked in before the Dubai event on 21-22 November. For the British team, a strong result there is essential if they're to keep their place in the hunt for the Championship-deciding Grand Final in Abu Dhabi.
Driver Dylan Fletcher said having access to the facility outside of race weekends would be "a game-changer for SailGP athletes."
"It gives us the opportunity to truly push the limits, dial in our communications and refine our playbooks," he said. "The conditions in Pensacola's bay will be fantastic, and having this centralised base will undoubtedly raise the standard of racing and depth across the entire fleet."
SailGP managing director Andrew Thompson called the opening of the base a milestone for the league, saying it will allow teams to "invest in athlete development and progressions, ultimately driving the long-term growth of our sport."
"Pensacola offers consistent conditions and a world-class setup that will allow our teams to test, train and innovate continuously to ensure the racing on the water remains the most exciting in the world," he added.
American Magic and SailGP have agreed a five-year commitment for the base, which runs on an innovative pay-to-train model, meaning teams only pay for the specific days they use the facility.
This builds on the shared services already accessed by the fleet at SailGP events. All teams have equal access to reserve training blocks outside of race weekends, and the first 10 training days sit outside the USD $10 million annual operating cap within teams' participation agreements.
Tom Slingsby's Bonds Flying Roos will also train in Pensacola ahead of Dubai as they prepare for the winner-takes-all shootout in Abu Dhabi, a formidable signal of intent to Los Gallos and the third team yet to book their spot in the Grand Final.
