Emirates GBR driver Dylan Fletcher says the team's week-long training camp in Pensacola has been a key opportunity to sharpen performance ahead of the final two events of the 2026 SailGP season.
With less than a month until racing resumes in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, Emirates GBR became the first team to make use of SailGP's new training facility in Pensacola, Florida, spending the week on the water in the league's dedicated training F50.
The training block comes at a crucial point in the season, with Emirates GBR currently sitting fifth in the Championship standings as the battle for Grand Final qualification intensifies.
For Fletcher, the week in Pensacola represents a crucial "springboard to success", giving the team valuable time on the water ahead of the final two events of the season.
"We've had a really productive week," said Fletcher. "The conditions we've seen here have been similar to what we expect in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, so it's been an important opportunity to test ourselves and continue refining our package heading into the final stretch of the season."
A major area of focus for Emirates GBR was improving performance off the start line, an area Fletcher believes has cost the team valuable points throughout the year.
"Our starting hasn't been good enough, plain and simple," he said. "It's a big focus this week, trying to get our playbook set for the end of the season."
Strong starts have become even more important since SailGP introduced its new group racing format earlier this season. With fewer overtaking opportunities available during races, securing a strong position from the outset can be the difference between reaching a Final and fighting through the fleet.
Alongside performance work, Emirates GBR also used the week to further develop squad depth, with sailors rotating through different positions onboard the F50.
"We're really trying to claw every minute on the water and it gives us an opportunity to up-skill our young athletes," Fletcher explained. "That's going to be a game changer."
The Pensacola camp forms part of the team's preparations for the final two events of the season, beginning with the Emirates Dubai Sail Grand Prix on 21-22 November before the Championship concludes at the Grand Final in Abu Dhabi on 28-29 November.
Having made the most of a valuable week on the water, Emirates GBR now turns its attention to the decisive final chapter of the season, determined to build momentum and strengthen its push towards Grand Final qualification.