Picture a boat going four times faster than the wind that's pushing it. That's SailGP — and now it has a luxury cruise brand painted on its hull.

On April 22, 2026, Explora Journeys — the Geneva-based, MSC Group-owned luxury ocean travel brand — confirmed it has entered a multi-year title partnership with the Swiss SailGP Team. The team now competes globally under the name Explora Journeys Swiss SailGP Team. The announcement was made at Seatrade Cruise Global in Miami, the cruise industry's biggest annual conference.

What is SailGP, exactly ?

SailGP is a global sailing championship where national teams race in identical F50 foiling catamarans — boats that literally lift out of the water and reach speeds of up to 60 mph. Everyone competes on the same equipment, so there's nowhere to hide. It's often called "F1 on water," and the comparison holds: it's loud, fast, and extremely technical.

The championship runs across a full season of races at iconic venues around the world, with teams accumulating points to qualify for the Grand Final. All teams use the same F50 catamaran, making it a test of skill, not budget — a rare thing in elite sport.

Why does this partnership make sense?

On paper, a cruise ship and a racing catamaran have almost nothing in common. One moves at 18 knots; the other flies. One is calm and curated; the other is chaos and speed. But that contrast is exactly the point.

Explora Journeys is positioning itself at the intersection of luxury travel and elite sport. It already has a partnership with Jannik Sinner, the World No. 1 tennis player, and ties to the Formula 1 Grand Prix de Monaco. SailGP is the third leg of what's becoming a deliberate brand strategy: associate with precision, performance, and a certain European cool.

The visual identity confirms the intention. The F50 catamaran and team apparel have been reimagined in Explora Journeys' signature blue, making the brand immediately recognisable on the water from a distance.

Where and when will the team race?

The partnership officially launches on May 9, 2026, at the Apex Group Bermuda Sail Grand Prix. After that, the team heads to New York and Portsmouth before the season's most symbolic stop: September 19–20, 2026, on Lake Geneva, Switzerland — the home city of both the team and Explora Journeys. The Rolex Switzerland Sail Grand Prix essentially becomes a home-ground celebration for the brand.

What else is happening for Explora Journeys in 2026?
This is a big year for the brand beyond SailGP. EXPLORA III — a new LNG-powered ship — will be officially named in Barcelona on August 1, 2026, following a Mediterranean Prelude Journey running July 24–29. By 2028, the fleet will grow to six ships. For a brand that launched its first vessel only in July 2023, that's rapid expansion by any measure.