We attended the Sail Grand Prix final day in SF this past Sunday, the race stadium located at the Yacht Club Peninsula. Got the cheaper waterfront reserve tickets which was more than sufficient to have a great view and a good time. Doors opened at 1pm with a long line that stretched all the way to the street (near Palace of Fine Arts, which is also where they offered event parking for a fee), but the line actually went fast and took us about 20 minutes to the security check and entry point on the pier.
Before showtime, guests could grab food and drinks (they had several food vendors like Respectable Bird, Izzy's chicken/salmon teriyaki, Bonito Poke, as well as bar tents for beverages), or purchase event merchandise (we customized a SailGP hat with paint). Bleacher seating was plentiful and right along the water, where attendees could enjoy house music playing through the speakers, a bit of trivia and event clips showing on the giant screens near the bleachers, and wind surfers on foilboards performing tricks for the crowd on the water.
Race times were from 2:30-4:00pm, and even though team USA was not one of the top teams, many fans in the crowd waved their US flags (which they gave out for free) and cheered in delight from the stands. The competition and race details were explained thoroughly and shown on the screen, helpful for inexperienced viewers. But it was fun just watching the F50 foiling catamarans racing on the water, and rooting for different countries. In the end, Spain defeated the Aussies who had done so well the first two races of the day, and took home the championship trophy along with $2 million in prize money.
Definitely a unique experience and even more exciting if you like competitions and/or water sports, the announcers providing great commentary as well. And the event was very well organized, the sound and picture quality of the big screens and speakers allowed all attendees and viewers a pleasant experience, entertainment value was high, clean and sufficient porta potties meant no waiting for restrooms, and communication prior to the event date, about parking options and what to expect, was clear and professional. read more