SailGP: HUMAN PERFORMANCE ELEVATES INNOVATION PREVIEW PRESS RELEASE Geneva, 21 April 2021 – The much-anticipated Season 2 of SailGP, the global championship that has redefined sailing, commences in Bermuda on 24 April. Rolex, whose proud association with yachting stretches back more than 60 years, has partnered the sporting league since its inaugural season in 2019. The ethos and vision behind SailGP and, notably, the platform it provides for technological innovation and human achievement, perfectly complements Rolex’s perpetual quest for excellence SailGP unites world-class athletic talent and cutting-edge technology. Eight teams representing Australia, Denmark, France, Great Britain, Japan, New Zealand, Spain and the United States will contest eight events held in as many countries over an 11-month period. Following the season opener in Bermuda, the championship visits renowned sailing locations in Italy, the United Kingdom, Denmark, France, Spain and New Zealand. San Francisco, United States, has the honour of closing proceedings with the Grand Final on 26–27 March 2022. Among those vying for the crown is the Great Britain team led by Rolex Testimonee and four-time Rolex World Sailor of the Year, Sir Ben Ainslie. “The sailing world was crying out for the creation of such a concept,” explains Ainslie. “SailGP is a major milestone in the evolution of yachting, but it also represents continuity. The combination of state-of-the-art technology and sporting prowess is widening the appeal of sailing.” Each event comprises a series of intense fleet races to determine the pairing for the final winner-takes-all match race. The competing 15-metre (49.2 foot), 2,400 kg F50 catamarans push the technological envelope. A one-design development class, all boats are identical, but subjected to continuous, simultaneous improvement. Already capable of speeds that exceed 50 knots (nearly 100 km/h or 60 mph) thanks to rigid mainsails (wingsails) and the foiling system that lifts the hulls out of the water to reduce drag, for Season 2 a modular version of the wingsail has been introduced. This innovation will enable the size of the mainsail to be better adapted to prevailing conditions, facilitating racing in a wider range of wind strengths. 1/3 SailGP: HUMAN PERFORMANCE ELEVATES INNOVATION Getting the best out of these sophisticated craft requires a crew of supremely talented athletes, adept at both sailing and controlling complex pieces of machinery. Teams comprise a helm, a flight controller, a wing trimmer and two grinders. With the boats travelling so fast, communication must be intuitive, reflexes and muscle memory sharp, trust between teammates absolute. Racecourses are short, putting crews under immense pressure. Real-time data drawn from some 1,200 sensors placed on the boats and the athletes, along with onboard cameras and microphones, helps with the development of equipment, as well as the tactics and techniques required to reach the pinnacle of performance. Throughout the season teams will accumulate points in a league table format before the top two contest a dramatic final race to decide the ultimate winner of the championship. To win overall is a significant achievement, reward for the most accomplished team in the face of single-minded, formidable opponents. The defending champion is the Australian team helmed by 2010 Rolex World Sailor of the Year and Olympic gold medallist Tom Slingsby. Sir Ben adds: “As a sailor you want to compete against the best and SailGP affords you that opportunity. Teams are made up of the top sailors in the world – Olympians like Tom and Nathan Outteridge, America’s Cup winners like Peter Burling, Blair Tuke and James Spithill. On matched boats, ultimately the racing comes down to skill and human performance. It could not be better.” In addition to its impressive innovation and athletic credentials, SailGP is equally committed to guaranteeing the future of the sport through the transmission of knowledge. Its Inspire programme creates pathways for young talent to achieve their potential, by delivering life-changing opportunities to aspiring sailors, regardless of background. “Inspiring and educating the next generation and having a positive impact on the sailing community at large is one of the championship’s hallmarks and great legacies,” explains Sir Ben. Although only one season old, SailGP has proven itself to be a major evolution in the sport. Pushing innovation, encouraging human achievement and remaining true to heritage unites Rolex and all the sports it supports. Through this partnership with SailGP, the Swiss brand’s long-standing association with yachting has strengthened still further. 2/3 SailGP: HUMAN PERFORMANCE ELEVATES INNOVATION ROLEX AND YACHTING Rolex has always associated with activities driven by passion, excellence, precision and team spirit. The Swiss watchmaker naturally gravitated towards the elite world of yachting six decades ago and the brand’s enduring partnership now encompasses the most prestigious clubs, races and regattas, as well as towering figures in the sport, including ground-breaking round-the-world yachtsman Sir Francis Chichester and the most successful Olympic sailor of all time, Sir Ben Ainslie. Today, Rolex is Title Sponsor of 15 major international events – from leading offshore races such as the annual Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race and the biennial Rolex Fastnet Race, to grand prix competition at the Rolex TP52 World Championship and spectacular gatherings at the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup and the Rolex Swan Cup. It also supports the exciting SailGP global championship in which national teams race identical supercharged F50 catamarans on some of the world’s most famous harbours. Rolex’s partnerships with the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, Royal Ocean Racing Club, Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, Yacht Club Italiano, New York Yacht Club and Royal Yacht Squadron, among others, are the foundation of its enduring relationship with this dynamic sport. ABOUT ROLEX AN UNRIVALLED REPUTATION FOR QUALITY AND EXPERTISE Rolex is an integrated and independent Swiss watch manufacture. Headquartered in Geneva, the brand is recognized the world over for its expertise and the quality of its products – symbols of excellence, elegance and prestige. The movements PRESS ENQUIRIES: of its Oyster Perpetual and Cellini watches are certified by COSC, then tested in- For further information house for their precision, performance and reliability. The Superlative Chronometer on Rolex and Yachting please contact: certification, symbolized by the green seal, confirms that each watch has successfully undergone tests conducted by Rolex in its own laboratories according to its own Ms Virginie Chevailler criteria. These are periodically validated by an independent external organization. Rolex [email protected] The word “Perpetual” is inscribed on every Rolex Oyster watch. But more than just a Tel: +41 22 302 26 19 word on a dial, it is a philosophy that embodies the company’s vision and values. Hans Mr Giles Pearman Wilsdorf, the founder of the company, instilled a notion of perpetual excellence that Quinag would drive the company forward. This led Rolex to pioneer the development of the [email protected] Tel: +44 7365 802815 wristwatch and numerous major watchmaking innovations, such as the Oyster, the first waterproof wristwatch, launched in 1926, and the Perpetual rotor self-winding mechanism, invented in 1931. In the course of its history, Rolex has registered ROLEX YACHTING PRESS ROOM Click Here over 500 patents. At its four sites in Switzerland, the brand designs, develops and produces the majority of its watch components, from the casting of the gold alloys ROLEX YACHTING PRESS KIT Click Here to the machining, crafting, assembly and finishing of the movement, case, dial and bracelet. Furthermore, the brand is actively involved in supporting the arts and culture, OFFICIAL WEBSITE sport and exploration, as well as those who are devising solutions to preserve the www.rolex.com planet. 3/3.