NorthStar SailGP Team on Waterspeed: the data behind 101.3 km/h

The NorthStar SailGP Team races an F50 foiling catamaran in SailGP and records its sessions on Waterspeed, its Official Technology Supplier. Two sessions from the 2026 season show what the app captures at that level: an in-race top speed of 101.3 km/h in New Zealand, and a Portsmouth session where the team held 78 km/h over its fastest 10 kilometres.

Who


Team	NorthStar SailGP Team, SailGP
Boat	F50 foiling catamaran
Relationship	Waterspeed is the team’s Official Technology Supplier, a multi-year partnership that started at the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Sail Grand Prix, where the Waterspeed logo first appeared on the NorthStar F50
Who records	Team members, with the session from New Zealand recorded by Wing Trimmer Paul Campbell-James

What they wanted

Top speed makes the headline, but a peak is one instant. The team’s sessions are shared so that fans and sailors can see what sits behind the number: how the speed built up, how long it was held, and how much of it turned into progress around the course.

What Waterspeed recorded

ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix, Waitematā Harbour

In-race top speed of 101.3 km/h, more than 28 metres per second on water.
Inside the session: the exact moment the boat peaked, the speed build-up into the run, the GPS track replay across the course, section splits and heatmaps.

See the 101.3 km/h session

Portsmouth


Maximum speed	96.6 km/h
Distance	About 110 km
Duration	3 hours, 43 minutes, 48 seconds
Best 500 m	88.3 km/h
Best 1 km	86.5 km/h
Best 5 km	79.4 km/h
Best 10 km	78.0 km/h
Upwind VMG	34.25 km/h
Downwind VMG	72.70 km/h

The fastest 10-kilometre section averaged only 10.3 km/h less than the best 500 metres. Downwind, speed and VMG sit close together: most of the boat’s speed goes into useful progress. Upwind the gap is wider, because the boat cannot sail straight into the wind and the team trades boat speed against the angle it sails.

Explore the Portsmouth session

What the data shows

Sustained speed over distance. Best speeds over 500 m, 1 km, 5 km and 10 km show whether a pace could be held, not just reached. A small drop across those windows is the mark of consistent foil control, efficient manoeuvres and good positioning.
VMG upwind and downwind. Velocity made good separates raw speed from progress towards the mark. It is the layer of strategy behind the headline number.
The same tools for everyone. Best speeds, replay, splits and VMG are the same features any sailor gets on a phone or watch; VMG, legs and polar charts are part of Waterspeed Ultra.

In their words

“Together, we’ll showcase how technology can unite performance, storytelling, and shared passion, bringing Waterspeed’s capabilities to a truly global audience.”

Costantino Spagnoletti, Waterspeed CEO

“This partnership aligns perfectly with our vision to harness innovation and data to deepen fan engagement, performance understanding, and sustainability awareness, on and off the water.”

Phil Kennard, NorthStar CEO

What comes next

The partnership runs across several seasons and events, with more during SailGP Season 6: co-created storytelling and behind-the-scenes content, community activations at selected SailGP events, collaborative digital experiences, and ways for fans and athletes to engage directly with the team.

FAQ

Can I see NorthStar’s sessions myself? Yes. Both sessions above are public on the Waterspeed web app; the links are on this page.

Which Waterspeed features does the F50 data use? GPS track replay, section splits and heatmaps, best speeds over set distances, and upwind and downwind VMG.

Can I analyse my own sessions the same way? Yes. Record on your phone or watch and Waterspeed shows best speeds, replay and splits; VMG, legs and polar charts need Waterspeed Ultra.