SailGP 

By Matthew Pryke

SailGP, the revolutionary new global sports championship founded in 2018 by Larry Ellison and Sir Russell Coutts, made its European debut in Cowes over the weekend of 10/11 August 2019. Six of the most technologically advanced catamarans hit UK waters for the first time for the penultimate event in the inaugural season.

SailGP is sailing redefined, combining cutting edge technology with awe-inspiring athleticism. Teams representing six countries and featuring many of the world’s most accomplished athletes compete on 50-foot, wing-sailed catamarans. Teams compete at five championship stops, with the finale at Marseille being a winner-take-all, $1 million match race between the top two teams.

Hamlins has been supporting SailGP since its inception, primarily:

  • Advising on the structuring and protection of the commercial, media and intellectual property rights of new league timed to support the global launch.
  • Negotiating and structuring the collaboration of the SailGP brand with various high-profile luxury brands.
  • Negotiating and drafting of an innovative media and data streaming collaboration agreement between SailGP and TATA Communications, the global data provider.
  • A secondment to support the legal function of the business to oversee the structuring and launch of this exciting new sporting series.

The Hamlins team has worked intensively alongside Coutts, the five-time America’s Cup winner and a business and sailing legend, and his team to bring the new global sports league to life.

Legal leaders in the new format sports arena

SailGP is a new format sporting venture joining the list of events which the team has recently advised on including Tie Break Tens, the 2019 Cricket World Cup and other innovative sporting concepts particularly in the area of e-Sports.

Hamlins provides a unique offering to the sports industry delivering a combination of commercial, IP, corporate, regulatory and doping and privacy expertise. For more information on our sports and brand management practice, please contact Matthew Pryke, Head of Commercial and Tech.

SailGP