Saint-Tropez has earned a reputation as one of SailGP's most electric venues. Since the circuit first visited the French Riviera in Season 2, the location has delivered moments that define the series: the debut of the 29-metre wings, Quentin Delapierre's blistering 99.94 km/h speed record in Season 3, and the chaos of Season 4, when Spain and Canada collided mid-race and New Zealand's wingsail suffered a catastrophic structural failure that ended their entire weekend.
That history makes the return on 12–13 September all the more loaded. Billed as one of the fastest racecourses in the world, Saint-Tropez has a habit of producing the kind of drama that shapes championships.
Twelve months ago, Emirates GBR stood on the top step of the podium after beating Tom Slingsby's Flying Roos and Spain in the final. France, racing in front of a home crowd, managed only sixth, while the Black Foils, crippled by their wingsail damage, finished the weekend eighth overall.
Season 5 has been building toward a decisive stretch. At Sassnitz in August, France, the Bonds Flying Roos, and Emirates GBR filled the podium in that order, with the Black Foils finishing fourth and narrowly missing the final. The championship picture could hardly be tighter. The Bonds Flying Roos and the Black Foils are level on 61 points, Emirates GBR sit just three behind on 58, and Los Gallos of Spain remain firmly in contention on 56. Three events remain before the Grand Final, and that proximity at the top will be making the three teams above Spain uneasy.
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The most significant development heading into Saint-Tropez is the confirmation that Brazil will compete after their F50 cleared the required structural tests. Russell Coutts broke the news on social media: "Confirmed… Mubadala Brazil SailGP Team will start in Saint-Tropez. With structural testing complete, the boat is right now being loaded into the truck. An incredible effort by the entire team at SailGP Technologies! Vai Brazil!!!"
Olympic champion Martine Grael leads the Brazilian squad, which also features Andy Maloney and Leigh McMillan among its crew. Their arrival introduces a genuine wildcard into a fleet already operating at the sharpest end of competition.
The confirmed line-ups across the fleet show a number of familiar combinations. Dylan Fletcher holds the helm of Emirates GBR with Hannah Mills as strategist. Slingsby's Roos carry their established core of Draper, Waterhouse, and Bryant. Spain stay with Diego Botin and Joan Cardona. The Black Foils again place their trust in Peter Burling, Liv Mackay, Blair Tuke, and Leo Takahashi, backed by a strong Kiwi grinder unit. Delapierre takes the wheel for France, hoping home support can translate into a result more befitting their capabilities. Germany, Red Bull Italy, Switzerland, and the United States complete the ten-boat fleet alongside the returning Brazilians.
On the water, the current Côte d'Azur forecast points to sunny conditions with light to moderate breezes and shifting winds that will keep flight controllers working hard across both days. Racing runs from 1.30–3pm CEST (23:30–01:00 NZT) on Friday and 12.30–2pm CEST (22:30 to midnight NZT) on Saturday, with qualifying races determining which three teams advance to the final shootout.
Several storylines are worth tracking across the weekend. The rivalry between the Roos and Emirates GBR continues after Sassnitz, with both teams chasing every point. Spain will be pushing to repeat their podium finish from last year and close the gap at the top of the standings. The Black Foils carry both the motivation of a championship challenge and the memory of last season's painful exit, making their performance here a significant test. And Brazil, fast finding their flair, could disrupt the established order in ways that are difficult to predict.
With the points table this compressed and three events still to run, Saint-Tropez in 2025 is more than just another round. A returning Brazil, a Black Foils team with something to prove, and a championship that could shift substantially across two days combine to make this one of the most consequential stops the series has yet produced.
