The final full fleet race of the Dubai SailGP Regatta brought drama as all 11 teams clashed, vying for one last chance to shine before the decisive final race.
Leaderboard After Race 4
1st place – New Zealand (Total points: 33 points)
2nd place – Australia (Total points: 30 points)
3rd place – Spain (Total points: 25 points)
4th place – Emirates GBR (Total points: 25 points)
5th place – USA (Total points: 23 points)
6th place – Canada (Total points: 21 points)
7th place – Germany (Total points: 17 points)
8th place – Switzerland (Total points: 17 points)
9th place – Rockwool DEN (Total points: 15 points)
10th place – Mubadala Brazil (Total points: 6 point)
10th place – Red Bull Italy (Total points: 4 point)
It was a game of points⏤knowing where you are on the overall points table, and knowing how many points your team still needs to gain to get into the finals. By this stage, you already know you’ve no chance and it’s about getting the experience. Or you’re almost 100% sure you’re in the finals (New Zealand) so just need to maintain your desired position somewhere in the pack, but don’t need to win. Or you need to prove yourself and aim to win this race to get into the final. The teams did not disappoint.
The biggest questions were would Spain rank high enough to get into the finals; most of the race it was a very tight race between the Spanish and the Americans. And what on earth happened to the Australian team? They were barely in the race.
The Start: High Stakes From the Gun
At exactly 37 minutes after midnight (NZT), the race started. Two seconds later Great Britain crossed the start line, the first to cross the line. Great Britain was followed by Italy and the Australia. Canada and New Zealand followed closely, keeping their campaigns alive.
Denmark crossed Gate 1, 1:21 seconds, followed 2 seconds later by Great Britain, and 14 seconds later by Spain. Australia rounded Gate 1 last.
Mid-Race: Tactical Moves and Penalty Drama
Rockwool DEN rounded Gate 2, 3:47 seconds after the start of the race. Sixteen seconds later saw the USA team round the second gate, followed by Great Britain who trailed 40 seconds behind Rockwool DEN. New Zealand were chasing 1:44 seconds behind the leader. Australia 3:40 seconds after Rockwoold DEN.
Meanwhile, tensions flared on the course. Brazil received a penalty for failing to give mark room to Switzerland at Gate 3. The penalty was quickly completed, but it cost the team precious seconds and valuable positions. Switzerland’s protest added to the drama, highlighting the high-stakes nature of the competition.
GBR and USA Pull Ahead
On the fifth leg, the race began to crystallise. Rockwool DEN rounded the final gate clearly in the lead with a time of 10:02 seconds. The USA team, exhibiting stellar teamwork and boat speed, rounded 24.4 seconds behind the Rockwool DEN. Great Britain, still in hot pursuit of the top spots, rounded Gate 5 at 37.7 seconds behind the leader.
Although Spain had continued to impress, they had dropped off the pace by Gate 5, and were shy of two minutes behind the leader. New Zealand were almost guaranteed a finals start by this stage of the race.
The Final Push
At 10:20 seconds after the start of the race Rockwool DEN crossed the finish line. Great Britain and USA engaged in a ferocious battle for second. The USA team crossed the line, 36.6 seconds behind the leader, while Great Britain followed closely 42.4 seconds.
Spain held firm, securing a solid fourth-place finish, while Germany and Canada rounded out the top half of the field.
New Zealand crossed the finish line 2:25 seconds behind the leader. There was no need to win, they had already made the final.
Race 5 Winners
1st place – 10 points – Rockwool DEN (Total points: 25 points)
2nd place – 9 points – USA (Total points: 32 points)
3rd place – 8 points – Emirates GBR (Total points: 33 points)
4th place – 7 points – Spain (Total points: 29 points)
5th place – 6 points – Germany (Total points: 23 points)
6th place – 5 points – Canada (Total points: 26 points)
7th place – 4 points – New Zealand (Total points: 37 points)
8th place – 3 points – Switzerland (Total points: 20 points)
9th place – 2 points – Red Bull Italy (Total points: 6 point)
10th place – 1 point – Australia (Total points: 31 points)
10th place – 0 points – Mubadala Brazil (Total points: 6 point)
Conclusion: High Expectations for the Final
This being the last fleet race of the Dubai series, it was an intense competition to see who could eek their way into the finals.
Leaderboard After Race 5
1st place – New Zealand (Total points: 37 points)
2nd place – Emirates GBR (Total points: 33 points)
3rd place – USA (Total points: 32 points)
New Zealand, Emirates GBR, and USA will go through to the Dubai Finals event
4th place – Australia (Total points: 31 points)
5th place – Spain (Total points: 29 points)
6th place – Canada (Total points: 26 points)
7th place – Rockwool DEN (Total points: 25 points)
8th place – Germany (Total points: 23 points)
9th place – Switzerland (Total points: 20 points)
10th place – Red Bull Italy (Total points: 6 points)
10th place – Mubadala Brazil (Total points: 6 points)
So, will New Zealand fly away with the final after taking it easy in this race? Great Britain and the USA raced hard, and stood out as the teams to watch in Race 5. Do either team have the momentum to win the final?
With the final race starting in a few minutes time, we will wait to see whose strategy and tactics will pay off.
