Construction begins on huge stands for prestigious SailGP event in Portsmouth

Huge spectator stands are under construction for the prestigious SailGP event which is returning to Portsmouth later this month.

Castle Field, the Bandstand field and the promenade in front of Southsea Castle are all currently closed.

This is to allow the construction work to build the spectator stands and infrastructure needed to support the sailing event including the race village for the event on July 25 and 26.

The promenade is closed from Blue Reef to the Pyramids until July 31, with fencing also around Southsea Castle and the back of D-Day Story meaning pedestrians will need to walk via Clarence Esplanade.

More than 20,000 people attended the inaugural Portsmouth event in 2025, watching the high-speed F50 catamarans race just metres from the shoreline at speeds exceeding 100km/h. This year's event marks the start of SailGP's European leg before the championship heads to Germany, Spain and Switzerland.

Away from the racing, this year's entertainment programme includes pop star Jess Glynne performing after racing on Saturday, while Craig David will close the weekend with his TS5 show on Sunday.

Olympic sailor and majority owner of the Emirates Great Britain SailGP Team, Ben Ainslie, said that holding the event in Portsmouth was ‘very special’ and he urged residents to turn out and show their support.

He said: “Last year was an incredible event. The turnout, the conditions were just perfect and with the weather at the moment we are expecting more of the same this year and an even bigger crowd, and the GBR team were second last season and we want to go one better and win it in front of the home crowd.

“Seeing these boats tearing around at 100km hour plus is quite some spectacle so enjoy it!”

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