After 19 hours of flights, 5 hours of train rides, and a 1.5-mile walk, your favorite traveler found herself on the cobblestoned streets of Cádiz, Spain. Was there a more direct route? Absolutely, but why take the most expedited path when you can stress about 4 different layovers in 4 differing time zones?
Despite my passion for exploring vividly blue-green waters and historical oyster-stone landmarks, my primary objective was experiencing the Spain Sail Grand Prix.
Hosting Spain’s first ever Sail GP Event, the Andalusian city of Cádiz hosted the 6th regatta in SailGP’s second racing season. Eight teams race identical flying catamarans at eight spectacular events across the globe. Each event lasts two days, with six regattas per SailGP regatta; five fleet races and one final winner takes all showdown. With three 15-minute races for each day, spectators get to watch state-of-the-art F50 Catamarans race at up to 60mph on the water. All culminating to the Grand Final race, at the end of the season. In this race the highest ranked teams will compete for the championship title and a $1 million prize.
The city was bursting with excitement. Billboards and advertisements for the first Spanish Grand Prix lined the streets at every turn. From the marina, I could see the colorful F50’s with their towering sails preparing for the events to come. It seemed like the entire country had traveled to the small peninsula of Cádiz just to watch the races, in fact, this event attracted the largest audience turnout in all of SailGP history. Exhausted from a long travel day, I met up with my partner, a systems engineer for SailGP, and promptly fell asleep.
I spent the first day of racing watching the first three regattas from shore along with over 11,000 cheering fans. Anticipation was in the air, along with the blasting music from merchandise pop-up tents and the undeniable aroma of sunscreen. Though the races didn’t begin until 4:45 p.m., the walls of the Bay were lined with rows of spectators hours in advance.
The first day of the event comprised of warm weather and light wind, making for tricky, almost-drama-free racing. The inconsistency of wind meant less power and speed for the boats, though it was exciting to see which teams could stay up on their foils the longest. Tactical strategy was the deciding factor in these three races, with extremely light wind only allowing for one boat to finish the third race. Day 1 was smooth-sailing compared the action-packed, seat-gripping drama that Day 2 would bring.
With the second day forecasting wind to be 17 knots gusting to 25, the teams faced much rougher conditions out on the water. As a member of the audience, Day 2 was considerably more entertaining to watch the boats tackle the upper limits of the F50’s capability at almost 60mph. With two boats capsizing both before and during the regattas, boats foiling and crashing into the waters, and plenty of near-collisions between the teams, Day 2 of racing was exhilarating to witness.
Luckily, I got to watch Day 2’s races from a catamaran of my own. Scoring a Waterfront Premium ticket, myself and around 20 other passengers had a front-row seat to the anarchy and chaos. Plied with too much wine and too little snacks, I was able to watch the drama unfold just feet away from the race course. A few drinks later, I befriended two lovely young women who also had inside connections to SailGP’s world. The three of us spent the afternoon getting to know each other and watching Australia claim victory for the third time this season.
Upon docking and departing, my two new friends invited me into the Adrenaline Lounge, a VIP clubhouse with gourmet catering and flowing champagne. There, I had the privilege of meeting some of SailGP’s charming head characters, who gave me a behind-the-scenes perspective on the whole operation. Surrounded by good people and good conversation, I lost track of time as the hours rolled into the night, and it was time to depart for the employee after-party.
Promising to reconvene with my new friends, I connected with my partner and his coworkers to taxi towards the party. We could hear the bass long before we saw the scene. Sizable brick walls surrounded the private outdoor venue, LEDs illuminated the center-facing Red Bull stage where a bouncing DJ danced to the pulsing music. People filled in and out throughout the night, but quickly my partner and I grew tired from the day’s activities and retired early to our hotel.
My first SailGP event was filled with riveting entertainment, delightful people, and more than enough Spanish wine. I’m more than thrilled to be following the events and watching the races leading up to the grand finale. Stay tuned for my article from the March 2022 SailGP Championship in San Francisco!
If you have any follow up questions about Cádiz or my SailGP experience, please email me at Abigail.ebb4@gmail.com
♡ Abigail Reagan
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