Navy Pier to host SailGP's first Chicago race

Sailing fans are sure to rejoice next month as SailGP, a competition featuring F50 catamarans competing at speeds of more than 60 miles per hour, makes its Windy City debut on June 18-19 with the new U.S. Sail Grand Prix Chicago at Navy Pier.

To celebrate the upcoming race, SailGP partnered with Navy Pier and the Chicago Sports Commission on May 9 to offer media representatives and VIP guests a sneak peek of the two-day event, including a tour of the freshwater course, branded by race organizers as "Chicago's Skyline Stadium."

Navy Pier will offer a number of entertainment options throughout the weekend of June 18, such as live music, multi-level ticketed viewing areas, premium food and beverage options, fan shops, fireworks and more. Spectators seeking unique experiences can also purchase "bring your own boat" packages, as well as exclusive F50 and athlete encounters and a special tailgate party. Tickets are available for purchase at SailGP.com/Chicago and NavyPier.org, and more details about the race will be released online in the coming weeks.

SailGP CEO Sir Russell Coutts described Chicago as a "spectacular venue" for the event.

"I can't think of another city like it worldwide," Coutts said. "Even the fact that you've got this river through the city, the water taxis — architecturally, it's a really interesting city. And then you've [got] this waterfront ... most people don't get to see from that perspective."

The Chicago race, part of a two-year hosting agreement between the city and SailGP, will be the U.S. Sail Grand Prix's second event of Season 3, a championship that includes races around the world in locations such as Great Britain, France, Dubai and New Zealand. The season, which kicks off this weekend with a race in Bermuda from May 14-15, is set to continue throughout the rest of 2022 and the first half of 2023.

Kara Bachman, executive director of the Chicago Sports Commission, said the freshwater sailing at Lake Michigan offers unique advantages compared to salt water. During a similar race in Chicago in 2016, competitors commented that the fresh water made it easier to keep their boats clean — and eliminated any worries about whales, Bachman added.

"There was a very fun incident at the conclusion of season 2 in San Francisco with a whale entering the racecourse, so they are very conscious, of course, of these animals, and there was a pause," Bachman explained. "There will be no whale pauses in the freshwater course on Lake Michigan."

U.S. SailGP Team athlete Rome Kirby, who has participated in a number of sailing competitions in Chicago over the years, said the area is like a "natural amphitheater" and that he appreciated the sound of the hometown crowd.

"[It] feels like you're in an arena here," he said.