Seeing It Unfold

Anita Haas Hoppe, Brazil

Goal Click is teaming up with SailGP to capture the spirit of the league through the eyes of its fans to showcase the emotion, energy, and personal journeys that surround SailGP events.

Anita is a fashion designer originally from southern Brazil who discovered her passion for sailing while living in Rio de Janeiro and experienced it first-hand at the ENEL Rio Sail Grand Prix 2026.

At first, it is the speed of SailGP that captures your attention, as it is much more intense in real life than you might expect. As I began to understand more, I started noticing the level of technique and decision-making behind each movement.

My name is Anita, and I am 23 years old, originally from the south of Brazil. I recently moved to Rio de Janeiro, where I work as a fashion designer, and I am very interested in visual storytelling and creative direction.

Sailing was not something I was familiar with before. However, since moving to Rio, it has slowly become part of my daily life. What started as curiosity has turned into a genuine interest.

I first became interested in SailGP through the people around me here in Rio, especially friends who are connected to the sailing world. Because I was new to this environment, I found myself constantly asking questions and trying to understand how everything works, who the key athletes are, and what makes each moment significant.

Through these conversations, I slowly built a deeper understanding of the sport and of SailGP itself.

For me, sailing today represents a connection to people, the ocean, and a community that is deeply passionate about what they do.

Energy And Excitement

I have found that SailGP feels more than just a sporting event - it is an experience.

Even without fully understanding the technical side, you can still feel the energy and excitement of everything happening around you. It is the kind of event where you do not just watch, you become part of it.

I really enjoy the combination of speed, precision, and strategy involved.

There is also something striking about the boats - the way they move across the water, and how everything happens so quickly yet still feels controlled.

It is not something you watch from a distance. You feel part of it. The proximity to the athletes, the energy of the crowd, and everything happening around the races create an engaging experience.

I support Team Brazil, especially with Martine Grael leading the team. Being in Rio and surrounded by people connected to the Brazilian sailing scene makes that support feel very natural and personal.

I am drawn to the team not only because of that proximity, but also because of what they represent: a combination of talent, precision, and resilience. Watching them compete creates a much deeper emotional connection to the races.

Team Brazil

The ENEL Rio Sail Grand Prix 2026 felt incredibly vibrant and alive. I felt there was a unique balance between high-performance sport and a social, almost festival-like atmosphere. You have the intensity of the competition, while also having music, interaction, and a strong sense of community.

Experiencing SailGP in person for the first time was very special, as it felt like a natural continuation of everything I had been learning during my time in Rio. I went from hearing about it through others to actually being there and seeing it unfold in real life.

Having the event set against the landscape of Rio made it even more special, and the view of Pão de Açucar (Sugarloaf Mountain) in Guanabara Bay added another layer of beauty to the whole experience.