Hollywood icons Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds race across Spain’s waters

Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman swapped the red carpet for high-speed catamarans as their famous on-screen rivalry arrived in Spain during the SailGP event in Valencia.

The pair, whose playful feud has entertained fans for years through the Deadpool and Wolverine franchises, took to the water ahead of the Spain Sail Grand Prix in a special head-to-head challenge on Saturday September 5. Instead of movie costumes, they climbed aboard cutting-edge F50 foiling catamarans capable of reaching speeds of more than 100km/h.

Reynolds claims victory

Reynolds represented Canada’s NorthStar SailGP team while Australian-born Jackman joined the BONDS Flying Roos, the Australian team that the two Hollywood stars co-own alongside team CEO and Olympic champion Tom Slingsby. Acting as guest “sixth sailors”, both experienced the thrill of racing on some of the fastest boats in the world.

The friendly contest ended with Reynolds celebrating victory after edging out Jackman in Valencia, adding another chapter to their long-running humorous rivalry. Reynolds joked that beating Jackman was “a national pastime in Canada”, while Jackman praised the SailGP athletes for their incredible speed and skill on the water.

Their appearance drew plenty of attention from fans gathered at Marina Port Valencia, where SailGP is making its debut under a new three-year agreement with the city.

Valencia hosts a crucial SailGP weekend

Beyond the celebrity spectacle, the Spain Sail Grand Prix is one of the most important races of the 2026 SailGP Championship.

Thirteen national teams are competing in Valencia as the season enters its final stages. The event is especially significant for Spain’s home team, Los Gallos, led by Olympic champions Diego Botín and Florian Trittel, who entered the weekend among the championship contenders.

After the opening day of racing, Los Gallos topped Group B with two race victories, while Australia’s Flying Roos led Group A, setting up an exciting final day on Sunday.

Celebrities helping transform the sport

Reynolds and Jackman are far from the only famous faces investing in SailGP. The championship has attracted a growing list of celebrity backers, including Anne Hathaway, Kylian Mbappé, Sebastian Vettel, Lindsey Vonn and DJ Khaled, helping raise the profile of the global sailing series.

League organisers say all 13 national teams are now backed by outside investors, marking an important milestone as SailGP continues to expand around the world.

For Valencia, hosting both world-class sailing and international celebrities is expected to provide a boost for tourism while showcasing the city’s waterfront to a global television audience.

While the serious racing continues, many spectators will remember this weekend as the moment Hollywood’s most entertaining rivalry left the cinema behind and took flight across the Mediterranean.