Tourism officials say the international sailing championship is boosting Bermuda’s profile globally while drawing visitors to the island
All eyes were on the Great Sound today as the Apex Group Bermuda Sail Grand Prix returned to the island for the fifth event of the 2026 season.
The sold-out event brought out droves of spectators to Morgan’s Point, along with those viewing by boat on the water for a day of thrilling action.
The cutting-edge hydrofoiling F50 catamarans race at speeds exceeding 60 mph.
Owen Darrell, Minister of Tourism & Transport, Culture & Sport, says, “This is kind of the Formula One of sailboat racing.”
From the waterfront seating to the hospitality tents, crowds were buzzing with excitement to cheer on their teams – but also to see Bermuda highlighted on a global stage.
Billy Griffith, chairman of the Bermuda Tourism Authority, said: “it’s certainly an exciting day for Bermuda. I’ve been touring around the various stands … and it seems to be a terrific day, terrific weather. What it means for Bermuda, though, is that we’ve just agreed for another three-year agreement with SailGP. They bring a tremendous amount of business to the island in terms of visitors and sailors and so on. It’s a magnificent attraction anyway, and I think we’ve got some really good Bermudian turnout this afternoon as well.”
More than 5,000 fans are expected over the weekend, and the event is proving to have drawn an international audience as well.
A pair of fathers, whose sons sail for the United States SailGP Team, travelled from Newport Beach, California.
Bill Menninger, father of trimmer Michael Menninger, said: “the funny thing is, they both grew up together as next door neighbours. We were neighbours in Newport Beach and, so the kids grew up together, they’ve know each other forever, and now they’re in their mid 30s. So it’s pretty fun.”
As for results, they hoped Team USA would deliver a consistent performance.
“We just hope they’re consistent and getting better. Each regatta they’re doing better and better. And it seems like that consistency is what we’re really hoping for,” said Bill.
Meantime, Robert Kinney, whose son Peter is the grinder, said: “Team USA has had a storied past. And if you look at the videos of all the crashes, we’re in a lot of them. The boys have made some great changes, and they brought on some new people, including Bill’s, son Michael, to help, really steady the ship. And now we’re, a force to be reckoned with.”
Looking ahead, Minister Darrell said Bermuda stands to benefit from exposure gained from the prestigious championship.
“As a minister responsible for tourism, I always want to expose, people overseas, to what Bermuda has to offer. I mean, the sun is out tonight, so the weather’s cooperating. And if people see this over the world, they can say that’s the place that I want to come to. And that’s the goal, right? That’s why we invest, the government, invest in different tourism products, the BTA deals with the sales and marketing. And this is what it’s all about, right, to get people to come out. It’s amazing.”
