The Rolex SailGP Championship is reaching its climax, as the international fleet prepares to gather in Dubai for the penultimate event of the 2026 season. Scheduled for November 21-22, the Emirates Dubai Sail Grand Prix presented by DP World serves as the critical final opportunity for seven teams to break into the top three standings. All 13 national teams return to the water at the Emirates Dubai Sail Grand Prix presented by DP World on November 21-22, 2026, two months after the Rolex Switzerland Sail Grand Prix In Geneva. And the last stop before the title is decided, it is the penultimate event of the season. That leaves one – and it changed hands in Geneva.
Following the Dubai event, the top three teams on the leaderboard will advance to the winner-takes-all Championship race. This grand finale will be held for the first time at the Emirates Palace during the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Sail Grand Prix, presented by the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, on November 28-29. A substantial purse of $2 million is on the line for the overall champion.
The hierarchy at the top of the table is already set. The Bonds Flying Roos dominate the standings with 94 points, while the 2024 champions, Los Gallos, hold 78 points after securing their third event victory of the season in Geneva. The race for the third and final position has intensified; the Artemis SailGP Team currently occupies this spot with 59 points, having overtaken the U.S. SailGP Team by a three-point margin during the Geneva competition. Racing with Martine Grael drafted in days before the event after driver Taylor Canfield broke his collarbone, artemis took four points from the weekend while the US scored none.
Despite the current standings, the situation remains fluid. The U.S. team follows with 56 points, while Emirates GBR, the defending Rolex SailGP Championship titleholders, currently sit on 53 points. Artemis driver Nathan Outteridge remains cautious, noting that the points gap is narrow and the team must continue to refine their skills in the Middle East’s light wind conditions. Commentator Stevie Morrison acknowledged that while Artemis has the current advantage, the top two teams have proven their consistency, leaving others with significant work to do. According to artemis will be the ones kicking themselves,”, SailGP commentator Stevie Morrison. “Having said that, you’d rather leave the event in the top three, so compared to the United States and Emirates GBR, they’ve got the box seat right now.
Environmental factors will be a major variable in Dubai. November typically sees temperatures hovering near 30 degrees Celsius with relatively flat water, which is ideal for foiling. However, if wind speeds are light, teams will likely utilize larger wings and reduce crew numbers, forcing individual athletes to take on multiple responsibilities. The racecourse layout, which features a tight path and a nearby sea wall, creates a technical challenge where strategists must expertly navigate fluctuating wind pockets. November typically brings flat water and temperatures around 30 degrees – ideal for foiling and kinder on the flight controllers keeping the F50s in the air.
Mathematical hopes for the top three remain alive for several other contenders. DS Automobiles SailGP Team France, with 46 points, NorthStar with 45, Rockwool Racing with 40, and Switzerland with 39 are all still in the hunt. Conversely, the paths for Germany, Red Bull Italy, Mubadala Brazil, and the Black Foils—who reached the 2024 Grand Final—have effectively closed, as they can no longer reach the necessary point threshold.
Beyond the championship qualification, there is significant incentive to perform in Dubai. The event victor will claim $400,000 of an $800,000 purse. The Bonds Flying Roos will be looking for redemption, having led and subsequently lost the final race in both of the previous two events, most recently falling to Los Gallos in Geneva.
