High speeds on the harbour: SailGP setting up for weekend in Halifax

SailGP banners are pictured at the Halifax Harbour. (Jonathan MacInnis/CTV News Atlantic)

The finishing touches are being made ahead of Sail Grand Prix this weekend in Halifax.

“This is my hometown, so it’s amazing to be back here for the second edition of the Canada Sail Grand Prix,” says Northstar’s Jennifer Hall.

The first year was in 2024. The event set attendance records with over 50,000 fans cramming the waterfronts in Dartmouth and Halifax for the two-day event.

“This year I think we’re going to break that record again. For sure, in terms of ticketed spectators they’re expecting 12,000 this weekend but I think when you look, this harbour is perfect for SailGP and you can see it from everywhere,” Hall says.

“I think it’s going to be absolutely fantastic once again. I think you’re going to see record crowds on the waterfront. I think people know what to expect,” adds Sail Nova Scotia’s executive director, Frank Denis.

This year there is an additional viewing option on George’s Island and a much bigger, 16-metre-tall grandstand that holds 4,000 spectators.

“It’s the highlight of the circuit for us, just home crowd advantage. We’ve got a lot of locals on the team from here so we’re so incredibly excited to sail in front of the beautiful waterfront with all the home fans,” says Northstar’s team strategist, Annie Haeger.

Those home fans made an impression two years ago.

“One of the highlights for me is, we can sail close to the wall here and we actually got the screams from the crowd picked up on our microphones on the boat. That’s how lively the crowd was,” Haeger says.

Unlike in 2024, SailGP has made a two-year commitment meaning the F50 catamarans will be back on Halifax harbour next spring. Organizers say it’s a big benefit to already have the event marked on the calendar.

“It’s wonderful. It hopefully saves us some work because we can just carry on from what we’ve been doing for the last year with our volunteers and with some of the programs we are operating,” says Denis.

As for this year, race fans will be spotting some of the high-speed vessels on the water tomorrow before practice racing begins Friday at 4 p.m. They’ll race for real on the weekend.

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