SailGP has had an exceptional first season, with capacity crowds in all five of the cities that hosted events. An estimated 115,000 people flocked to cheer on their favorite teams at competitions across the globe.

The global league's inaugural season started in Sydney earlier this year.

The Aussie team's dominant season, along with the huge crowds drawn by the Sydney event, means that the SailGP will return to the iconic Australian harbour on February 28 and 29 for the first event of Season 2.

Season 2 will feature teams representing Australia, China, France, Japan, Great Britain and the United States, with a view to further expand this number.

SailGP's 50-foot flying catamarans are up there with the fastest sail racing boats in the world, and are piloted by some of the world's best sailors, including Australian Olympic gold medallist Tom Slingsby, who led the Australian team to a maiden title.

Slingsby established himself as the one to beat from the beginning, winning the Sydney, San Francisco and Cowes events with Nathan Outteridge challenging him in each event's final match race.

"Sailing in front of a home crowd was simply amazing, and something that I had never experienced before at this level," Slingsby said.

"There is nothing more special and motivating for an athlete to have the support of the home crowd, and I am extremely excited that we are returning to Sydney.

"It's one of my favourite places to sail and to win this year was the perfect start to our season. We'll be aiming to make it a repeat victory next year."

SailGP CEO Sir Russell Coutts said: "Sydney was a spectacular venue to launch SailGP earlier this year on every level - the iconic harbour backdrop, the competition, the fans - and we can't wait to return,"

"The teams will be spending the winter testing new wing sails, and other exciting upgrades on the F50s.

"The boats are getting faster and the teams more competitive, and we expect Sydney will once again be a great natural amphitheater to showcase these incredible athletes and boats."

More than 22,000 people representing 25 nations turned out to watch Slingsby and the Australia SailGP Team win the historic home event on Sydney Harbour in February 2019.

Overall, the landmark event reached 96 million people worldwide.

Recognising the benefit of the event - which saw $US21 million spent in relation to Sydney SailGP and a total economic impact of $US18 million - Tourism Australia is supporting SailGP for 2020. Sydney SailGP will help promote Australia as a tourist and major events destination, and drive visitor growth and expenditure.

"It's fantastic that NSW continues to attract major sporting events and we are delighted to welcome SailGP back for the second time," the NSW Minister for Sport, John Sidoti, said.

Australia's Coral Sea Marina Resort, formerly known as Abell Point Marina, has achieved Platinum accreditation. This accreditation, the highest possible, is awarded under the global Gold Anchors Award scheme managed by the Marina Industries Association (MIA), based in Australia, and TYHA (The Yacht Harbour Association) in the UK.

Coral Sea is the fourth Australian marina after Soldiers Point Marina, Birkenhead Point Marina and Empire Marina Bobbin Head, to secure the Platinum award. There are Gold Anchor accredited marinas in over 25 countries.

A formal presentation will take place at Coral Sea Marina Resort in November.

Ineos Team UK has launched their new AC75 for the 36th America's Cup. The team christened their first race boat from their HQ in Portsmouth, naming her Britannia in homage to one of Britain's most famous racing yachts.

The team have put over 90,000 design and 50,000 construction hours to get Britannia in the water.

This follows the launch of other AC75s, from Emirates Team New Zealand and Luna Rossa. Teams will test their boats before heading to Sardinia ahead of the first America's Cup World Series event in Cagliari from 23 - 26 April 2020.