Geograph - photograph every grid square

The WYGP Prix was modelled on Formula One motor racing and further legs were scheduled for Kiel in Germany; Long Beach, California; and Sydney Harbour. A planned leg in Tokyo was cancelled before the series began.

The event was heavily sponsored by Scottish Enterprise and was expected to draw crowds of 50,000 spectators for each of the four days. However, lack of additional sponsors resulted in the event being considerably scaled down and fears over crowd control resulted in its being moved from the original venue at Gourock, five miles up the coast. The crowds were probably measured in hundreds rather than the expected tens of thousands.

The series was the brainchild of an Australian company, Sail International, who sold licences for different legs of the Grand Prix and made the identical 50ft hulls of the competing boats. The UK leg was organised by The Challenge Group, of which the late Sir Bobby Moore was a member.