Canada Sail Grand Prix | Halifax

June in Nova Scotia sounds pleasant enough. It wasn't. When SailGP made its Canadian debut in Season 4, Halifax delivered freezing temperatures, torrential rain, and wind funnelling into the harbour at an average 20 knots across the weekend. Sailors were dressed for the Southern Ocean – snoods, balaclavas, dry suits – looking more like marshmallows than athletes. The British team loved every miserable minute of it, grinding out a win while everyone else tried to remember where they'd packed their thermals.

The fans, for their part, were also unfazed. More than 50,000 packed the shoreline, the event sold out, and a post-season survey named Halifax their favourite racetrack on the entire circuit. After sitting out Season 5, it returns for Season 6 with a reputation already cemented: brutal conditions, brilliant atmosphere.

The Canadian team has carved out genuine hero status here – especially when they’re beating their neighbours to the south. Last time, Canada had a shot at the final and let it slip. The home crowd will expect a step forward this time.

Past winners: Great Britain (Season 4)