As every Nautik reader knows, Valencia became the global epicenter of competitive sailing this weekend with the debut of SailGP—known as the “Formula 1 of the sea”—which brought together thirteen international teams at Marina Port, along with two of Hollywood’s most recognizable faces: Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds.
The interesting thing is that the actors, stars of the hit movie *Deadpool & Wolverine*, didn’t attend the event as mere spectators. Both are co-owners of the Australian team Bonds Flying Roos and wanted to experience SailGP from the inside, climbing aboard the F50s, the foiling catamarans capable of exceeding 100 kilometers per hour on the water, as “sixth crew members” or 6th Sailors.
During the practice session leading up to the Spanish Grand Prix, Jackman and Reynolds staged a high-speed head-to-head race while wearing custom helmets inspired by their X-Men characters, designed by the artist Painton. Jackman took the wheel of the Australian F50 for his own team, Bonds Flying Roos, while Reynolds joined the crew of the Canadian team NorthStar, representing his home country.
The race, which was as close as it was intense, ultimately went Reynolds’ way after a penalty against Jackman’s crew allowed the Canadians to cross the finish line first. It wasn’t the first time the actor had tried this experience: he had already served as a crew member during the Bermuda Grand Prix earlier this year, an experience he described at the time as “the most amazing thing I’ve ever experienced.”
“I gave it another shot this time, and just like last time, I got my butt kicked—though I think I did a little better this time,” Reynolds joked after the race. “It was really special. And then, of course, humiliating Hugh Jackman… that’s a national pastime in Canada.” Jackman, for his part, wanted to highlight the quality of the show: “Watching this team is incredible. They’re lightning fast—it’s thrilling to watch them.”
During their visit to the city, the two actors also met with the mayor of Valencia, María José Catalá, who went to the Puerto de la Marina to greet them and later shared a photo with them on her social media accounts.
Friends… And sailors
Jackman and Reynolds’ presence in Valencia is not the result of a one-time visit, but rather stems from an involvement that dates back to June 2025, when both actors acquired a stake in the Australian SailGP team, which was then renamed the Bonds Flying Roos SailGP Team, joining the team’s skipper and CEO, Tom Slingsby.
At the time, the couple presented the news with the same sense of humor that characterizes their public image: “We are incredibly excited to embark on this new adventure together,” they said, emphasizing that “Hugh brings a deep love and pride for his country, as well as being a huge sailing fan.” They didn’t miss the chance for a joke: “We apologize in advance to Australia; we won’t comment on whether we’re wearing our Bonds, and we won’t take any more questions.”
Slingsby, for his part, described the actors’ involvement as “an incredible milestone for us and for the sport,” emphasizing that “having global icons like Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds as co-owners brings unparalleled visibility, a passion for storytelling, and a sense of humor that fits perfectly with our team.”
His arrival is part of a growing trend within SailGP, which has succeeded in attracting investors from the worlds of sports and entertainment: Formula 1 driver Sebastian Vettel has invested in the German team, Kylian Mbappé is involved with the French team through his investment firm Coalition Capital, and actress Anne Hathaway is an investor in the Red Bull Italy team.
Fifteen years of a rivalry that started as a joke
The chemistry between Jackman and Reynolds on the water isn’t a coincidence: it’s the latest chapter in a public rivalry that has now spanned more than fifteen years and that began, quite unexpectedly, on the set of *X-Men Origins: Wolverine* in 2009. At the time, Reynolds had just married Scarlett Johansson, a close friend of Jackman’s, who didn’t hesitate to warn him—with a laugh—that he’d be keeping a close eye on how he treated her.
That camaraderie gave rise to a friendly rivalry that has continued to be fueled by new jokes over the years: Reynolds has claimed on social media that his co-star is a “monster” who hides his true Milwaukee roots behind a facade of an Australian accent, while Jackman got back at him by once convincing him to attend a party alone wearing a ridiculous Christmas sweater. The rivalry has also extended to disputes over the title of “sexiest man in the world” and mutual sabotage between their respective gin and coffee brands.
All those past pranks eventually turned into a global box office phenomenon with the 2024 release of *Deadpool & Wolverine*, the movie that took their on-screen rivalry to unprecedented heights. And this week, in the port of Valencia, that same chemistry has once again been on full display: whether they’re fighting in front of the cameras or at the helm of rival ships, pairing Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds is still a surefire way to put on a show.
