The world’s fastest sailboats arrive in New York Harbor on May 30–31, 2026 for the Mubadala New York Sail Grand Prix — and there is exactly one way to watch them that belongs in the same sentence as the race itself: from a private yacht on the water.
SailGP is Formula 1 on water. Twelve national teams. Identical F50 foiling catamarans flying at speeds approaching 100 km/h (62 mph) — faster than the wind that powers them. The racing unfolds close to shore, between the Statue of Liberty and the Manhattan skyline, with the kind of speed and spectacle that makes the Hudson River feel like the most dramatic sporting venue on earth.
Dream Boat NY’s SailGP charter puts your private group directly on the water for the full event: departure before racing begins, optimal positioning during the competition, and a relaxed return after the final race. No crowds. No strangers. No obstructed views. Just 3.5 hours on a private yacht with one of the most extraordinary nautical events in the world unfolding around you.
Dates: Saturday, May 30 and Sunday, May 31, 2026. Both days available. Book early — SailGP charter dates fill quickly.
The SailGP NYC Experience: What Happens on the Water
SailGP doesn’t race on a distant course. The close-to-shore format was designed for spectators — and from the water, that design delivers something that grandstand seating simply cannot replicate.
The F50 catamarans race between the Statue of Liberty and lower Manhattan, navigating Upper New York Bay with the full skyline as their backdrop. From a private yacht positioned on the Hudson, guests have 360-degree views and the freedom to move between the outdoor teak deck and the enclosed cabin lounge — watching from any angle as the fleet screams past at over 60 miles per hour.
The scale of it requires being there. Twelve foiling catamarans at race speed, rising out of the water on hydrofoils, spray flying, the city looming behind them. A private yacht is not merely a good vantage point — it is the vantage point.
Captain Martin has navigated these waters for over 30 years. During the SailGP charter, the vessel is expertly positioned to keep guests as close to the action as safely permitted, with expert narration on race dynamics, course layout, and the technical brilliance of the F50 fleet.
SailGP NYC Charter Schedule
May 30 & 31, 2026
Both race days follow the same schedule:
Departure: 2:30 PM from Chelsea Piers
Racing begins: 3:30 PM
Racing concludes: 5:00 PM
Return: 6:00 PM to Chelsea Piers
Duration: 3.5 hours
Departure before racing begins is intentional. The first 60 minutes on the water — before the F50s reach race speed — is the best opportunity to find position on the Hudson, take in the pre-race atmosphere, and enjoy the yacht at its most relaxed. When the racing starts at 3:30 PM, the entire attention of the harbor turns to the course.
The return after the final race provides time to celebrate and enjoy the late-afternoon skyline on the way back to Chelsea Piers.
Rate: $2,000 for up to 6 guests (both days available; book each day separately)
About SailGP — The Race Coming to New York
SailGP is a global championship featuring national teams competing in short, intense races at iconic venues across multiple continents. The format is deliberate: close-to-shore racing, stadium-style spectating, and a championship structure that sends rival national teams head-to-head at each stop.
The boats are extraordinary. F50 foiling catamarans are among the most technologically advanced sailing vessels ever built — designed to lift entirely out of the water on hydrofoils, reducing drag to near zero and achieving speeds that sound impossible until you watch them happen in person. Each six-person crew manages steering, wing-sail trimming, and flight control simultaneously, at speeds where a miscalculation happens faster than human reaction time can correct it.
New York is one of the most demanding and visually spectacular venues on the circuit. Upper New York Bay presents conditions that test the best crews in the world — gusty, shifting wind patterns deflecting off the Manhattan skyline, with ferry traffic and tidal currents adding additional complexity. The racing that emerges from these conditions is unpredictable, close, and genuinely thrilling.
The Mubadala New York Sail Grand Prix has produced some of the most competitive racing on the SailGP circuit. Alongside Saint-Tropez and Sydney, New York ranks among the most iconic grands prix of the season.
Your Private Yacht:
The Dream Boat NY Experience
The SailGP charter is conducted aboard Dream Boat NY’s private yacht, exclusively reserved for your group of 2–6 guests. The full vessel is for your group alone. No other guests. No strangers.
Outdoor Teak Deck Step aboard onto an all-wood teak deck designed around a U-shaped seating configuration — intimate enough for conversation, open enough for the full panorama. A retractable canopy provides full shade or full sun at your choosing, making Dream Boat NY the only convertible vessel on the New York waterways. The deck is the primary viewing platform during the race, with unobstructed sightlines in all directions.
360-Degree Unobstructed Views No poles, no support columns, no crowds blocking the sightlines. Guests move freely between the outdoor deck and the enclosed cabin throughout the charter, choosing their preferred vantage point as conditions and the race evolve.
Indoor Wood-Paneled Cabin Lounge Nestled in the heart of the vessel is a wood-paneled interior cabin with a half-circle of deep-cushioned white marine upholstery and table seating for six. Fully enclosed and protected from the elements.
Kitchenette The cabin includes a small, stylish kitchenette that allows crew to provide seamless food and beverage service throughout the charter.
Modern Bathroom Onboard restroom with personal cloth hand towels.
Bluetooth Sound System Connect a personal playlist for the departure and return portions of the charter.
Catering for the SailGP Charter
The SailGP experience deserves a proper celebration. Dream Boat NY’s full catering menu is available for the charter — order when booking and everything is arranged in advance.
Popular choices for the SailGP charter:
All-Inclusive Champagne & Appetizers — $65 per adult Open bar with an artisanal charcuterie board: select cured meats and premium cheeses with fresh grapes, marinated olives, and crackers, served on solid wood trays. Open bar includes Chandon Brut Cuvée Champagne, Whispering Angel Rosé, High Noon Hard Seltzer, Pinot Gris, Beer, and soda & seltzer.
All-Inclusive Champagne Lunch — $80 per person Open bar with a Mediterranean Lunch Board: bite-size sandwich wraps, Mediterranean dips, pita bread, fresh vegetables, and cornichons. Full open bar included.
Classic Shrimp Cocktail — $58 for 2 guests / $98 for 3–6 guests Plump jumbo shrimp on ice with cocktail sauce.
Bottle Service
- Dom Pérignon Champagne · $350
- Veuve Clicquot Brut Reserve Cuvée Champagne · $137
- Moët & Chandon Reserve Imperial Brut · $108
- Whispering Angel Rosé · $42
- Chandon Brut Cuvée · available à la carte
View the full catering menu →
Gratuity is not included in the charter rate. An 18–22% gratuity for the crew is customary and appreciated.
Who Books the SailGP Charter
Sports & Sailing Enthusiasts For guests who understand what SailGP is — the technology, the athleticism, the global prestige — a private yacht charter is the natural way to attend. No compromise on the viewing experience, no stadium logistics, no fighting for position in a crowd.
Corporate Entertainment The Mubadala New York Sail Grand Prix is one of the most impressive corporate entertainment opportunities on the NYC summer calendar. The 2–6 guest capacity is precisely right for executive-level client entertainment: intimate enough to have real conversations, exclusive enough to make an impression. Clients attending from abroad will talk about it for years. Link to corporate yacht charters →
International Visitors The SailGP circuit is a genuinely global event — the teams represent nations that take sailing seriously, and their fans travel. For international guests visiting New York for the Grand Prix, a private charter provides a level of access to the race venue that no ticket category offers.
Groups Celebrating Around the Event A SailGP weekend in New York is an occasion. Birthdays, anniversaries, milestone gatherings — the race weekend provides a natural anchor for a celebration that includes one of the most dramatic sporting spectacles in the city’s summer calendar.
Booking Information & Policies
Rate: $2,000 for the 3.5-hour SailGP charter
Capacity: 2–6 guests (maximum 6 passengers per USCG federal regulations)
Departure: 2:30 PM from Chelsea Piers, Pier 59
Duration: 3.5 hours
Return: 6:00 PM to Chelsea Piers
What’s Included:
- The vessel exclusively for your group — no other guests, no strangers
- Outdoor all-teak deck with U-shaped seating and retractable canopy
- Indoor wood-paneled cabin lounge with white marine upholstery and table seating for six
- Modern bathroom with personal cloth hand towels
- Kitchenette for crew food and beverage service
- Bluetooth sound system
- Complimentary bottled water for all guests
- Professional USCG-certified captain (30+ years NYC waterway experience)
- All Chelsea Piers docking, boarding fees, and fuel
- Expert positioning during the SailGP race
Not Included: Catering (available to order), gratuity (18–22% customary)
Weather Policy If weather conditions require the captain to postpone the charter, rescheduling within the calendar year is complimentary. Standard reservations are non-refundable. The Premium reservation option allows cancellation for any reason up to 30 days before departure (minus the Premium fee) and one rescheduling for any reason up to 48 hours before departure. See full reservation policies →
Boarding Requirements Guests must present a valid government-issued photo ID (passport or US driver’s license) matching the credit card used for booking. Guests without valid ID cannot board; no refund or rescheduling is issued in this circumstance.
Departure Location Chelsea Piers Marina, Pier 59 — directions and parking →
Frequently Asked Questions
How close will we be to the SailGP course? The yacht is positioned on the Hudson River during the race, with the course running in Upper New York Bay between the Statue of Liberty and lower Manhattan. Captain Martin navigates to the best available position given race-day conditions, keeping guests as close to the action as permitted by the US Coast Guard. The F50 catamarans race close by design — the experience from the water is extraordinary.
Is this the same as a grandstand ticket? It’s different in every important way. A grandstand ticket provides a fixed viewing position in a crowd. The private yacht charter provides a moving, fully private vessel with 360-degree unobstructed views, catering, and the ability to reposition throughout the event. Many guests who have attended SailGP events in grandstands describe the charter as a completely different — and significantly better — experience.
Do I need to know anything about sailing to enjoy this? No prior sailing knowledge is required. Captain Martin can guide you throughout the race explaining what’s happening on the course — the tactical decisions, the foiling mechanics, what separates the leading teams from the rest. The racing is visually spectacular regardless of background knowledge; a personal guide makes it genuinely enriching.
Can we watch both race days? Yes. Saturday, May 30 and Sunday, May 31 are both available for charter. Some guests book both days; others choose the day that works best for their schedule. Each day’s charter is booked separately.
How many people can join? A maximum of 6 passengers are permitted onboard per USCG federal regulations. The charter is booked for your private group — no other guests are added.
What should we wear? Dress for an afternoon on the water in late May. Layers are recommended — conditions on the Hudson can be cooler than on land, particularly at speed. Flat, soft-soled shoes are standard for any yacht deck.
Is parking available at Chelsea Piers? Paid parking is available at the Chelsea Piers complex. Car service drop-off are also convenient. Full directions at /location/ →
What’s the cancellation policy? Standard reservations are non-refundable. The Premium option allows cancellation for any reason up to 30 days before departure. Full details at /policies/ →
Reserve Your SailGP Charter
May 30 & 31, 2026
Two days of the world’s fastest sailboats in New York Harbor. One private yacht with your people.
Charter dates for marquee events fill well in advance. Reserve your SailGP charter now.
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