The final race of day one at the KPMG Australia Sail Grand Prix saw the Flying Roos—Australia—cement their dominance with back-to-back victories, securing their second consecutive win on Sydney Harbour. The home team, led by Tom Slingsby, was in a class of its own, holding a commanding lead throughout the race and leaving the competition scrambling for answers.
Meanwhile, France continued its resurgence with a strong second-place finish, while Great Britain rounded out the podium in third. But at the other end of the spectrum, New Zealand suffered yet another catastrophic result—this time finishing dead last, leaving fans and analysts alike questioning what has gone so terribly wrong for the Kiwis.
Australia in full control
From the moment the fleet hit the water, the Australians looked comfortable. They found the best pressure early, executed clean manoeuvres, and kept a steady flight throughout the course. Unlike some of their rivals, who battled for position in the congested mid-fleet, Australia had the luxury of sailing their own race—something that has long been their hallmark.
With their strategy dialled in and their boat handling near flawless, Slingsby’s crew extended their lead to over 200 metres on the second-place French team. By the time they approached the final gate, there was no question: the Flying Roos would take their second win of the day, solidifying their status as the team to beat.
France and Great Britain stay in the hunt
While Australia dominated, the real battle was for the remaining podium spots. France, returning to the fleet after missing the first two events of the season, proved they are already back up to speed. Quentin Delapierre’s team fought hard to hold off Great Britain and secured second place—a strong finish after an inconsistent day of racing.
Great Britain, which had taken a win in race two, continued their run of form with another third-place finish. Though they couldn’t challenge Australia for the lead, they remain one of the most consistent teams in the fleet and will be looking to capitalise on any slip-ups from the Australians on day two.
A brutal day for New Zealand
For the Kiwi fans, race four was yet another disaster. After struggling all day, New Zealand’s performance hit a new low as they limped across the finish line in 11th place. The black foils never looked competitive, with Peter Burling and his crew seemingly unable to get the boat foiling consistently.
At one point, New Zealand came to a complete stop on the course, dead in the water as the rest of the fleet sailed away. Whether this was down to technical difficulties or poor execution remains to be seen—but as race after race goes by, the excuses are running thin.
After their disappointing home event in Auckland, Burling and his team needed a strong showing in Sydney. Instead, they are at risk of falling completely out of championship contention. If their struggles continue into day two, serious questions will need to be asked about what’s happening within the team.
A look at the fleet standings
With four races completed, Australia has emerged as the clear leader, consistently finishing first or second. France’s late-day resurgence has put them back in the mix, while Great Britain remains a strong contender.
Mid-fleet, Canada, Spain, Denmark, and Germany have all shown moments of brilliance but remain just outside the top-tier battle. Switzerland, after their race one victory, fell back to ninth in race four, struggling to maintain consistency.
At the bottom, Italy and New Zealand find themselves in dire straits, with New Zealand’s back-to-back poor performances becoming a major talking point of the event.
Can the Kiwis turn it around?
As day two of racing approaches, all eyes will be on Australia to see if they can complete a clean sweep. But perhaps the biggest question is whether New Zealand can find a way to stop their freefall.
Technical issues, tactical misfires, or something more—whatever the cause, the Kiwis must find a solution quickly, or risk being written off as a non-contender for the rest of the season.
