Sail GP 2025 Project Overview
Sail GP 2025 is a prestigious global sports championship (race) featuring high-speed F50 foiling catamarans. These incredible catamarans, which in themselves, are a world class example of nautical engineering design, and speed, use a foiling design lifting the boats out the water enabling them to reach speeds of up to 60mph.
Competing teams from 12 countries including USA, Australia, New Zealand, Great Britain, Brazil, Italy, Canada, France, Denmark, Germany, Switzerland and Spain race for a grand prize across a series of 12 events worldwide. Events were hosted in Dubai, Australasia, America and Europe with the grand final being hosted in Abu Dhabi. The prize? To become the overall winners of the grand finale and a prize pot of $12.8 million.
Within each city, a spectators area was created for guests, sponsors and public to view the on water action, from the shore.
The Brief
Returning to the UK after a few years away, Sail GP 2025 was set to take place in Southsea, Portsmouth, Hampshire.
WH Silverbacks was tasked with designing and implementing two critical structures for the event…
- A covered terrace area adjacent to the Adrenalin Lounge marquee structure and
- A Premium Waterfront Terrace area. An area of individual structures offering luxury viewing and entertainment spaces where people could relax, eat, enjoy the racing and party at the same time.
Sail GP is known for being high-speed, high-tech, and visually dramatic. The structures and land-side elements therefore needed to meet these standards, align with the event’s overall reputation and deliver an exceptional spectator experience.
Solutions
Collaborating with Triton, who were responsible for the scaffolding, allowed the team to determine the necessary sizes for each covered area. Triton’s detailed CAD drawings of the platform sizes provided the foundation for mock ups of the proposed, and final designs. These included all essential structural calculations which were critical to success and safety.
The Adrenalin Lounge Terrace was covered with a 4.5x70m truss box and white stretch tent roofs, meticulously tailored to the space available on the promenade. The marquee extended right up to the lampposts on one side, and from there, the structure was built to stretch from the lampposts to the seawall. The precision of trussing allowed for a perfect fit, showcasing its flexibility in adapting to required shapes and dimensions.
The Waterfront Premium areas featured three distinct truss boxes designed to follow the contour of the promenade. These included sizes of 4.5x40m, 4.5x25m, and 4.5x15m, each topped with grey stretch tent roofs, aligning seamlessly with the promenade’s shape.
Installation
The WH Silverbacks team had to be onsite early to place concrete weights necessary for the scaffolding foundation, despite not starting the build immediately. They returned a few days later to commence the build with a ten-person crew.
The team started by assembling trussing to chest height, attaching roofs before lifting them with manual lifts. Priority was given to the Premium Waterfront areas to allow others to begin set dressing preparations. Following this, they moved on to the Adrenalin Lounge area, which was notably busier.
The build presented several challenges, including limited working space and variable weather conditions, such as wind, extreme heat, and occasional heavy rainstorms. Despite the constrained space and the immediate occupancy of the area by other teams and workers, WH Silverback’s slick delivery, time management and collaboration with others meant a successful and efficient build.
Additional Enhancements
A trusted partner, Temporary Flooring Services, provided carpets for the Premium Waterfront, creating the foundation for the space. WH Silverbacks brought the vision to life by dressing the structure with carefully chosen hessian decor and additional set dressing to create a stylish beach-inspired vibe. While navigating challenges like strong winds, the team ensured every element was perfectly in place, proving that it’s the finer details and finishing touches that truly transform a space into a VIP experience.
Outcomes & Impact
The structures WH Silverbacks created not only met but exceeded client expectations, offering an experience likened to “an Ibiza nightclub” ambiance.
The installations were indispensable throughout the event, offering crucial protection for guests against the weather’s shift from heavy morning rain to glorious sunshine. Guests could see the action up close and personal in the comfort of a beautiful and dramatic waterside setting.
Record breaking crowds
In 2025 Sail GP attracted over 20,000 fans, setting a record for the largest sailing event in the UK and the Northern Hemisphere and is likely to return to Portsmouth again in 2026.
“A pleasure working with the team at WH Silverbacks! Always helpful, friendly and professional, nothing is ever too much trouble. They’re happy to offer advice and go the extra mile to get things done. The structures themselves are second to none, top quality across the board.”
Work With Us
Have a Project You’d Like to Discuss? – Get In Touch
Get in touch with our expert team today
- Tel: 01202 096957
- Email: info@whsilverbacks.co.uk
