As the year comes to a close, we pick out some of our favorite photographs from SailGP's 2022 archive. From Season 2's San Francisco Grand Final in March to the league's first ever event in the Middle East in November, SailGP's photography perfectly captures the excitement, drama and passion of the sport.
Spain and the United States collide in San Francisco
The two-day spectacle of the Season 2 Championship Grand Final took place in March 2022, with the eight F50s taking to the iconic waters of San Francisco Bay. Jordi Xammar's first event as driver of the Spain team didn't quite go to plan. Despite picking up two top-three positions in early fleet racing, the team collided with the United States F50 on the second day of racing. SailGP's photography team were standing by to capture the dramatic moment.
Season 3 gets underway in Bermuda
SailGP's third season got underway on the beautiful blue waters of Bermuda's Great Sound with two new teams on the starting line. Canada and Switzerland joined the nine-strong fleet and there was plenty of drama early on. France earned its very first Black Flag for barging Great Britain aside on the start-line, while newcomer Canada exceeded expectations by securing a place in the first Final of the new season.
Australia triumph at first Season 3 Sail Grand Prix
Australia stunned spectators at the first Sail Grand Prix of the season by sweeping to victory on the Great Sound. The Aussies beat Great Britain and newcomer Canada to get their Season 3 campaign off to a winning start.
SailGP arrives in Chicago for the first time
Next up was SailGP's first ever visit to Chicago for the T-Mobile United States Sail Grand Prix. Spectators lined Navy Pier to watch the close-to-shore racing action but it didn't go well for home favorites United States. The team put in a shocking fleet racing performance, finshing eighth overall.
Switzerland's Stu Bithell captured in action
Here Switzerland wing trimmer Stu Bithell is captured in action on board the Swiss F50 during a practice session ahead of racing getting underway in Chicago.
The Duchess of Cambridge visits the Great Britain SailGP Team in Plymouth
The Duchess of Cambridge caused a stir when she visited the Great Britain Sail Grand Prix in Plymouth and jumped on board the British F50 alongside driver Ben Ainslie. The Duchess took part in a special Commonwealth Race with New Zealand and even took the wheel. Her sailing experience paid off and Great Britain beat the Aussies in front of delighted home fans.
Canada's Isabella Bertold slips overboard in practice
SailGP's photographers captured the dramatic moment Canada strategist Isabella Bertold slipped overboard during a practice session in Plymouth. Thankfully Isabella was prevented from falling into the water by her safety tether and was quickly pulled back on board by her team mates.
The fleet sails by Copenhagen's iconic wind turbines
The fourth event on the Season 3 circuit was the ROCKWOOL Denmark Sail Grand Prix in Copenhagen, where the fleet took to the water alongside the city's iconic wind turbines.
Great Britain retire after running aground
It was a bad event for Great Britain, which hit an uncharted rock in practice and seriously damaged their F50. The team were forced to retire from the event and entered a race against time to get their F50 fixed in time for the Range Rover France Sail Grand Prix in Saint-Tropez.
Canada almost capsizes at the Range Rover France Sail Grand Prix
Canada come close to capsizing in the second race of the Range Rover France Sail Grand Prix as the nine teams struggled to keep their F50s under control in gusty conditions.
France sets a new F50 speed record
Quentin Delapierre's crew made SailGP history in Saint-Tropez after breaking the league's speed record in winds of 40+ km/h. The French hit a new record of 99.94 km/h in the third fleet race to the delight of home fans.
Spain races to fix their F50 ahead of racing in Cadiz
A Spanish crew member is seen tending to the team's broken jib just minutes before the first race of the Spain Sail Grand Prix. The jib was mended in the nick of time to allow the home favorites to race alongside the fleet.
Australia struggles with choppy conditions in Cadiz
Here Australia is seen struggling in Cadiz's choppy ocean swell. Gusty conditions and an unstable sea state proved challenging to crews as they went to battle in Spain.
SailGP arrives in the Middle East for the first time
SailGP's inaugural event in the Middle East got underway with the Dubai Sail Grand Prix. The venue provided the ultimate close-to-shore racing spectacle, with fans positioned just meters from the teams.
Dubai's edge-of-the-seat Final
Dubai provided the closest Final in SailGP history, with all three teams leading at various points of the race and Great Britain falling at the final hurdle. Instead, it was Australia that swept to victory, securing its first event win since Chicago.
