Founder of Oracle, the flamboyant Larry Ellison, 75 years old this year, has never hidden his love of racing. After sponsoring the America’s cup, the entrepreneur launched a one-brand championship called Sail GP last year, whose main sponsor is the watchmaker Rolex. Until now, the analogy between Formula One and sailing has been held by a piece of halyard with the America’s Cup. But in reality, even as the battle raged on, these large monohulls with full sails did not deliver the intensity required for a TV hit. In the case of Sail GP, it’s a different matter altogether. Flying at more than 100km/h, the catamarans give a sensation of speed never seen before. Another particularity: the data from each team collected by Oracle is all identical. Thus, the fleet benefits from exactly the same level of information and only the crews make the difference. Although they are wearing helmets and protective gear, the crew members have a lot to do if they want to stay on board. From spectacular bursts to violent telescopes to turns on the wing, the Sail GP has relegated all the other regattas to the background. Filled with onboard cameras as much as single-seaters can be, this competition gathered a total of nearly one billion television viewers last year alone! The final will take place in the Bay of Marseille in France at the end of September (20th-22nd.
