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South China Morning Post

Style Edit: Rolex SailGP Championship prizes sustainability and inclusivity as well as speed

For almost 70 years, Rolex has maintained close ties with the world of yachting, supporting the most prestigious yacht clubs across the globe. But its connection runs deeper than ceremonial partnerships. It's a relationship built on shared values – precision, performance and pushing the limits. Nowhere is this more visible than in the Rolex SailGP Championship, a high-octane, hi-tech regatta where national teams battle it out on identical foiling catamarans at jaw-dropping speeds, often within metres of each other. The Germany SailGP team rounds the mark marginally ahead of Denmark SailGP, with the French, British, New Zealand and Spanish teams in pursuit during a practice session ahead of the KPMG Australia Sail Grand Prix in Sydney, in February. Photo: Handout At its core, SailGP is a study in controlled intensity. Competing on identical F50 foiling catamarans capable of reaching speeds as high as 100km/h, the world's top sailors are pushed to their limits in a setting that leaves no room for error – or ego. In a rare move for elite sport, SailGP embraces open data sharing, allowing every team to analyse and respond to its competitors' strategies. 'Everyone is starting from scratch, and we all see this as a chance to innovate and adapt faster than the competition,' says Rolex Testimonee and Australia SailGP CEO Tom Slingsby. Advertisement The Australia SailGP team, France SailGP, Canada NorthStar SailGP, Spain SailGP and New Zealand SailGP practise ahead of the KPMG Australia Sail Grand Prix. Photo: Handout Yet SailGP's ambition extends beyond the water. Through initiatives such as the Impact League, teams are rewarded not just for podium finishes, but for their commitment to environmental responsibility and inclusivity, from reducing emissions and using clean energy to championing diversity within their teams. Athletes are incentivised to treat performance and progress as equal goals. For Brazil's Martine Grael – a two-time Olympic gold medallist and the league's first female driver – this dual mandate is compelling. 'I've been hugely impacted by how much nature has been affected by climate change, so it is important that I'm able to work towards reversing this damage,' she says. Martine Grael, driver of the Mubadala Brazil SailGP team, at the KPMG Australia Sail Grand Prix. Photo: Handout Rolex's presence in the championship is a reflection of its long-standing philosophy: that excellence is not defined solely by results, but by the integrity of the path taken. This is echoed in the efforts of Hannah Mills and Sir Ben Ainslie, co-founders of Athena Pathway, a programme designed to create new opportunities for women and young talent within sailing and the marine industry. Hannah Mills, strategist for the Emirates Great Britain SailGP team, springs into action at the KPMG Australia Sail Grand Prix. Photo: Handout By supporting the Rolex SailGP Championship, Rolex reinforces its belief in long-term vision, human potential and the quiet power of perseverance. And in doing so, it helps shape a version of the sport that honours the past, engages with the present and sails confidently into the future.