SailGP has opened its first long-term training base at the American Magic High Performance Center in Pensacola, Florida, under an agreement running to 2031.
The year-round facility will support training with the event’s F50 catamarans, athlete development, testing and technical work outside race weekends. The first athletes and an F50 catamaran have arrived, with Emirates GBR among the initial teams using the base.
Teams will book training through a pay-to-train model and pay only for the days used. The first ten days will sit outside SailGP’s US$10 million annual team operating cap. Financial terms of the wider agreement between SailGP and American Magic have not been disclosed.
SailGP will control scheduling and provide equal access to training blocks. Multiple teams can use the facility simultaneously, supported by technical specialists, safety resources, shore operations and testing services.
The arrangement is intended to provide more consistent preparation than the limited training normally available around events.
Athlete development
“The SailGP Training Base is more than a facility – it is the infrastructure that enables the next phase of our growth,” said SailGP managing director Andrew Thompson.
And he added that the site would allow teams to invest in athlete development and test continuously.
American Magic chief operating officer Tyson Lamond said the multi-season commitment would also create opportunities to involve the local community in SailGP activity.
Dylan Fletcher, driver of the Emirates GBR SailGP Team, described the dedicated base as ‘a game changer’, adding: “It gives us the opportunity to truly push the limits, dial in our communications and refine our playbooks.”
The programme will also provide a controlled environment for onboarding new sailors and increasing squad depth. Central management is intended to maintain comparable access as SailGP expands its fleet and international schedule.
The High Performance Center opened in January 2026 at the Port of Pensacola. American Magic uses the site for sailing programmes, composite production, engineering and research and development.
Its activities include America’s Cup, Olympic, women’s and youth pathways, alongside commercial marine and aerospace work.
