Shifty breezes shake up the fleet
Saturday’s racing unfolded under tricky conditions, with 11 teams battling it out in the ever-changing breeze of Sydney Harbour. The start of the 2025 season saw a mix of fresh faces and seasoned contenders making their mark on the leaderboard.
The France SailGP Team, competing for the first time this season, wasted no time settling in. Driver Quentin Delapierre and his crew immediately proved they could match the pace, finishing the day in third overall. Meanwhile, Emirates GBR and Switzerland also secured race wins, while Australia’s remarkable consistency kept them on top of the standings.
The U.S. SailGP Team was absent from the racing action after a disastrous capsize in training sidelined them for the weekend. With the American squad forced to sit out, the remaining teams capitalised on the opportunity to bank valuable points in the early stages of the season.
Australia sets the standard
Tom Slingsby and his Australian crew made an emphatic statement on home waters, finishing on the podium in all four races, including back-to-back wins in Fleet Races 3 and 4. The team’s performance saw them finish the day comfortably ahead of the competition, setting the stage for a potential event victory.
Slingsby, brimming with confidence after another dominant display, said:
“It doesn’t get much better really. Four races in tough conditions and to come away with four good results, we’re extremely happy.”
With their sights set on Sunday’s final, the Australians looked poised to continue their reign as the team to beat in SailGP.
Swiss breakthrough and French resurgence
Switzerland kicked off the day with an impressive victory in Fleet Race 1, edging out Spain and Australia. The team, which has struggled in previous seasons, demonstrated marked improvement, particularly in their ability to fight back from poor starts.
Swiss driver Sébastien Schneiter reflected on the team’s best start to a SailGP event yet:
“A pretty good day at the office. Obviously winning the first race really set the tone nicely for the day. But to be honest, we’re almost more happy with the races where we were able to climb through, which is a first for us.”
Meanwhile, France, returning to competition for the first time since July 2024, quickly found their rhythm. Despite an eighth-place finish in Fleet Race 3, the team showed impressive consistency with results of fourth, third, and second in the other races. Delapierre acknowledged the challenges of adapting to the newly introduced T-Foils:
“It was great to be back here in Sydney. Obviously we wanted to start earlier this season, but to have our first Grand Prix in Sydney in such conditions, it’s just extraordinary. It’s unbelievable to sail again and with the new T-Foils. It was the first time for us and with completely different boat handling – we have to adapt a lot.”
Their strong showing sees France well positioned heading into Sunday’s finale.
Penalties rock the U.S. and Germany
The biggest drama of the weekend unfolded off the racecourse, with the U.S. SailGP Team receiving a devastating eight-point season penalty following their training capsize. A technical investigation confirmed the capsize occurred due to a control error, echoing a similar incident in Bermuda last season.
Germany, led by Erik Heil, also had a day to forget. The team was handed a record-breaking 12-point penalty for multiple rule infractions during practice, the largest penalty ever incurred in a single day. The setbacks leave both teams at the bottom of the season standings with a mountain to climb in future events.
Kiwi struggles continue
While the home crowd cheered on Australia from a sold-out spectator fleet and Shark Island’s prime viewing spot, New Zealand had a tough day on the water. A dramatic nosedive in Fleet Race 3 capped off a series of disappointing results, including consecutive mid-to-late pack finishes. The team, which has shown flashes of brilliance in past SailGP seasons, will need to reset and find form quickly if they want to challenge for the overall championship.
With Australia leading the charge, France making a strong comeback, and penalties shaking up the standings, all eyes now turn to Championship Sunday. Can Slingsby’s crew maintain their dominance, or will another team rise to the occasion.
