SailGP opens cutting-edge facility to drive championship growth
SOUTHAMPTON, England - SailGP on Thursday unveiled its gleaming new $10 million innovation centre in Southampton, complete with more than 100 boat-building experts and a mission to supercharge the world's fastest sailing championship.
The state-of-the-art SailGP Technologies facility on England's south coast opened its doors ahead of this weekend's Great Britain Sail Grand Prix, marking a major investment in the future of racing that sees 50-foot catamarans fly across water at nearly 100 km/h.
The Southampton hub houses a small army of designers, engineers, boat builders and specialists in everything from composites to hydraulics, all working to keep SailGP's fleet of high-tech F50 catamarans racing at breakneck speeds around the globe.
"The opening of SailGP Technologies represents a major step forward in our continued ability to support a truly global championship," said Joel Marginson, Director SailGP Technologies.
"This facility gives us greater control and resilience across the fleet, enabling faster turnaround of repairs, more consistent performance, and a reliable supply of spares while on tour."
The facility relocated from New Zealand in late 2023 to be closer to SailGP's London headquarters and optimize proximity to the global racing calendar. The centre will also serve as a training hub complete with racing simulators.
SailGP CEO and co-founder Russell Coutts celebrated the milestone, saying: "As we grow, it's incredibly important to have fully integrated capabilities and expertise. This state-of-the-art facility will enable SailGP to remain at the very forefront of industry technology and innovation."
Top stories
Swipe. Select. Stay informed.
Singapore Driverless bus in Sentosa gets green light to run without safety officer in first for S'pore
World US strikes destroyed only one of three Iranian nuclear sites, says new report
Business 5 things to know about Kuok Hui Kwong, tycoon Robert Kuok's daughter and Shangri-La Asia head honcho
Asia Air India probe into Boeing 787 fuel control switches finds no issues
Singapore Man charged over manufacturing DIY Kpods at Yishun home; first such case in Singapore
Singapore Sex first, then you can sell my flat: Women property agents fend off indecent proposals and harassment
Singapore Two women jailed for submitting fake university certificates to MOM for employment passes
Singapore Fatal abuse of Myanmar maid in Bishan: Traffic Police officer sentenced to 10 years' jail
The championship has also launched its first boat-building apprenticeship programme, selecting six emerging professionals to develop the next generation of marine industry talent.
The Great Britain Sail Grand Prix takes place in Portsmouth on July 19-20, with national teams competing for personal glory and a slice of $12 million in total prize money. REUTERS
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
28 minutes ago
- Straits Times
What are the new tariff rates Trump set on US imports from dozens of countries?
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox FILE PHOTO: Containers are stacked on the deck of cargo ship One Minato at Port Liberty New York in Staten Island, New York, U.S., April 2, 2025. REUTERS/Jeenah Moon/File Photo U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Thursday new tariffs of up to 41% on goods imported from dozens of countries, again citing emergency powers he says he is using to shrink the country's trade deficits with many of its trade partners. Here are the new adjusted reciprocal tariff rates levied on U.S. importers that Trump announced ahead of his August 1 deadline for negotiated trade agreements, listed in alphabetical order by country of origin. Imports from some countries, like Brazil, are facing additional tariffs that stack on top of the reciprocal tariffs listed below. Afghanistan 15% Algeria 30% Angola 15% Bangladesh 20% Bolivia 15% Bosnia and Herzegovina 30% Botswana 15% Brazil 10% Brunei 25% Cambodia 19% Cameroon 15% Chad 15% Costa Rica 15% Côte d`Ivoire 15% Democratic Republic of the 15% Congo Ecuador 15% European Union 0%–15% Equatorial Guinea 15% Falkland Islands 10% Fiji 15% Ghana 15% Guyana 15% Iceland 15% India 25% Indonesia 19% Iraq 35% Israel 15% Japan 15% Jordan 15% Kazakhstan 25% Laos 40% Lesotho 15% Libya 30% Liechtenstein 15% Madagascar 15% Malawi 15% Malaysia 19% Mauritius 15% Moldova 25% Mozambique 15% Myanmar (Burma) 40% Namibia 15% Nauru 15% New Zealand 15% Nicaragua 18% Nigeria 15% North Macedonia 15% Norway 15% Pakistan 19% Papua New Guinea 15% Philippines 19% Serbia 35% South Africa 30% South Korea 15% Sri Lanka 20% Switzerland 39% Syria 41% Taiwan 20% Thailand 19% Trinidad and Tobago 15% Tunisia 25% Turkey 15% Uganda 15% United Kingdom 10% Vanuatu 15% Venezuela 15% Vietnam 20% Zambia 15% Zimbabwe 15% REUTERS
Straits Times
28 minutes ago
- Straits Times
US official says differences with India cannot be resolved overnight for deal
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi shake hands as they attend a joint press conference at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., February 13, 2025. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque//File Photo WASHINGTON - Differences between the U.S. and India cannot be resolved overnight to arrive at a trade deal, a senior U.S. official told reporters late on Thursday, citing geopolitical disagreements. WHY IT'S IMPORTANT President Donald Trump said on Wednesday Washington was still negotiating with India on trade after announcing earlier that day the U.S. would impose a 25% tariff on goods imported from the country starting on Friday. The 25% figure would single out India more severely than other major trading partners, and threaten to unravel months of talks between the two countries, undermining a strategic partner of Washington's and a counterbalance to China. KEY QUOTES "Our challenges with India, they've always been a pretty closed market... there are a host of other kind of geopolitical issues," the U.S. official said. "You've seen the president express concern about, you know, membership in BRICS, purchases of Russian oil and that kind of thing." While saying there were constructive discussions with India, the official added: "These are complex relationships and complex issues, and so I don't think things can be resolved overnight with India." CONTEXT India has faced pressure from the West, including the U.S., to distance itself from Moscow after Russia invaded Ukraine in early 2022. New Delhi resisted that pressure, citing its longstanding ties with Russia and its economic needs. Trump has cast the BRICS group of developing nations - of which India is a key part - as hostile to the U.S. Those nations have dismissed that accusation and the group says it promotes the interests of its members and of developing countries at large. Trump has also drawn India's frustration by repeatedly taking credit for an India-Pakistan ceasefire that he announced on social media on May 10. The ceasefire halted days of hostilities between the nuclear armed Asian neighbors. India's position has been that New Delhi and Islamabad must resolve their issues directly without outside involvement. Trump has reached a trade deal with India's rival Pakistan. REUTERS
Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
Trump modifies reciprocal tariffs ahead of deadline; rate on Singapore likely to remain at 10%
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox The White House made the announcement in a fact sheet, which said the president had signed an executive order on July 31 WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump will keep minimum global tariff rates at 10 per cent, resisting prior suggestions he could raise the floor to 15 per cent or higher, according to a White House statement July 31. The White House separately released a list of tariff rates on imports from several other trading partners that had yet to finalise trade frameworks as his Aug 1 deadline nears. The White House made the announcement in a fact sheet, which said the president had signed an executive order on July 31. It was unclear how many trading partners will receive the minimum so-called reciprocal tariff rate and how many will receive higher levies. Senior US officials said that the tariff rate will be 10 per cent for trade partners the US enjoys a trade surplus with. The US goods trade surplus with Singapore was US$2.8 billion (S$3.6 billion) in 2024, suggesting that Singapore would fall in this category. Mr Trump also signed a separate order that increases the tariff rate on Canada to 35 per cent from 25 per cent, with the higher levy taking effect on Aug 1. That change excludes goods that are covered under a US-Mexico-Canada free trade pact he negotiated in his first term. The rates come hours before Mr Trump's self-imposed deadline, and will hit a wide range of mostly smaller- and medium-sized economies countries that Mr Trump showed little interest in bargaining with. Bloomberg
