Not For The Faint Of Heart

Sami Williams, Canada

Goal Click has teamed 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.

Sami Williams is a Halifax-based social media marketer who first discovered SailGP from the balcony of her waterfront apartment when the event arrived in the city in 2024.

SailGP is like Formula One on water. You do not truly appreciate how fast the boats are until you see them in person.

My name is Sami Williams. I am 26 and grew up on Prince Edward Island (PEI) in Canada. I spent the last few years living in cities like New York, Miami, and Milan before finding my way back to the Maritimes. I now call Halifax home and work in social media marketing.

When I was growing up on PEI, my parents signed my sister and me up for a sailing camp on a whim. We ended up loving it so much that we went back for three weeks every summer after that. We made so many friends and learned to sail Optis, Lasers, and 420s, but it was about so much more than just sailing. We spent our days playing games on the water, laughing, and making memories.

One of my favourite games was buoy tag, where the coach boat would tow a buoy behind it and we'd all jump overboard, trying to hold on for as long as we could. Those are still some of my favourite summer memories growing up.

I first discovered SailGP on the day I moved to Halifax. June 1, 2024, happened to be the first time SailGP came to the city, and my apartment overlooks the waterfront where the races take place. I was able to watch it all unfold from my new home, which felt like a pretty special welcome to the city.

I remember looking out at the harbour and wondering what was going on because there were people everywhere. At first, all I noticed was how incredibly fast the boats looked. After experiencing the event this year, though, I have a much greater appreciation for the skill involved and just how exciting the racing is to watch in person.

Experience The Action

One of the things I love most about SailGP is that the boats are basically flying. Beyond that, it is a sport you do not need to know much about to enjoy. The excitement is immediate, and it is the kind of event that pulls you in regardless of your background with sailing.

While racing is racing at its core, the wind and water add a level of unpredictability you just cannot replicate anywhere else. No two race conditions are ever the same, and that is a huge part of what makes it so exciting.

What really sets SailGP apart from other racing sports is the venue itself. With most racing, you are watching from one section of a track. In Halifax, the entire harbour becomes the arena. Whether you are watching from a rooftop, walking along the boardwalk, sitting on a waterfront patio, or out on a boat, there are so many different ways to experience the action.

I loved getting to experience the event from so many different perspectives. I had actually never been to Georges Island before, so it was my first time seeing Halifax from that point of view. The Grandstand was a completely different experience. The energy was incredible, the crowd was so engaged, and being that close to the action gave me a whole new appreciation for the racing, especially around the finish line.

I also loved being able to watch the warm-ups and all the excitement from my apartment overlooking the waterfront throughout the weekend. Every viewpoint offered something different, and together they made the whole SailGP experience even more memorable.

Beyond Racing

The atmosphere in Halifax during the Canada Sail Grand Prix was incredible. The whole city felt locked in. Every balcony and rooftop overlooking the waterfront was packed, the boardwalk was full, restaurants were buzzing, and boats gathered across the harbour just to watch the racing.

The moment that has stayed with me most was Canada finishing second in their heat before charging back on Sunday. Watching the home team fight back in front of a hometown crowd was really exciting. You could hear people cheering all along the waterfront, and everyone in the Grandstand was suddenly on their feet. There was such a strong sense of hometown pride, and you could tell everyone was behind Team Canada.

SailGP also does a fantastic job of creating an experience that goes beyond the racing itself. Throughout the day, there was live commentary, food and drink vendors, and plenty happening between races to keep the crowd engaged. I loved that the event extended beyond the racecourse. The restaurants, patios, boardwalk, and waterfront all felt like part of the experience, and it was refreshing to see so many people travelling to Halifax specifically for the event.

Seeing SailGP live also completely changed my appreciation for the sport. It made me realise just how intense sailing really is. Watching the boats fly past the Grandstand was probably the biggest moment for me. From a distance, you almost forget there are real people sailing these high-speed catamarans until they get close and you see them moving around the boat. Seeing how fast they are and the precision and teamwork it takes, gave me a whole new level of respect for how brave these athletes are.

It is definitely not for the faint of heart!