Fremantle, Perth, Australia
17 January 2026 – 18 January 2026
Completed
Winner: Great Britain
Fremantle holds mythical status in professional sailing as the venue for the 1987 America's Cup defense—an event that revolutionized the sport's broadcasting and put Australian sailing on the world map.
The selection of Perth as season opener leverages the southern hemisphere summer to provide premium content during the traditional off-season for Northern Hemisphere sports. A three-year partnership with Tourism WA secures this venue through 2028.
The mid-January dates coincide with the legendary 'Fremantle Doctor'—a powerful sea breeze that consistently builds in the afternoon. For F50 catamarans requiring 12-14 knots to foil reliably, Perth offers one of the most statistically reliable wind windows on the planet.