Excitement is reaching fever pitch in Halifax as the city eagerly anticipates hosting the first-ever Canadian Sail Grand Prix.

Scheduled for June 1-2, 2024, this historic event has captured the imagination of locals and visitors alike, with tickets for the event selling out this week.

Thanks to the tireless efforts of Sail Nova Scotia and a coalition of local organizations including the Province of Nova Scotia, Halifax Regional Municipality, Build Nova Scotia, Discover Halifax, and the Port of Halifax, Halifax has secured its position as a premier destination for sailing enthusiasts and competitors alike.

Frank Dennis, executive director of Sail NS, emphasized Halifax’s strong maritime heritage and active sailing community, stating, “Sailing in Nova Scotia is much more important to our million people than you might realize.” This sentiment reflects the city’s deep-rooted connection to the sea and its enduring love for the sport of sailing.

Adding to the excitement, Team Canada, led by Phil Robertson, was in Halifax this week to promote the event and drum up support from local fans. Robertson, a seasoned sailor with a string of victories under his belt, expressed his enthusiasm for competing on home waters and encouraged Halifax residents to come out and cheer for the home team.

“It’s hard to explain for those who haven’t seen it but it’s going to be a spectacle,” said Robertson while appearing at City Hall this week. “These boats fly and are more like planes than boats, traveling fast at top speeds of 100 kilometres per hour which in a small harbour like Halifax will be very exciting,”

Team Canada currently has four Nova Scotians on it’s crew and Robertson who originally hails from New Zealand says they hope to have a fully Canadian team in the near future.

The event will feature ten world-class teams representing national teams from around the globe, including Canada, Australia, Denmark, France, Germany, Great Britain, New Zealand, Spain, Switzerland, and the United States. Spectators can expect thrilling races as these elite sailors navigate the challenging waters of Halifax Harbor, racing between George’s Island and the MacDonald Bridge.

Despite tickets selling out quickly, organizers are assuring residents without tickets that they’ll still be able to watch the races as they will be taking place in the middle of the harbour and should be easily visible for anyone with a waterfront view.

A map showing the SailGP Canada race course in Halifax harbour. Photo: SailGP.

Halifax Mayor Mike Savage expressed his excitement about hosting the international event, affirming, “This is a world-class event, and it’s not one of those leisurely sails many of us might be used to but it’s high-speed exciting stuff, like Formula 1 on the water,” said Savage.