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AUCKLAND, New Zealand — On the opening day of the SailGP competition, Australia secured a strong lead, clinching a victory along with two second-place finishes.
With a total of 34 points, the Australian team outperformed Britain’s 28 points, which included a win and a second place in the initial two races.
Spain followed closely in third with 26 points, while New Zealand, after winning the final race of the day, moved up to fourth place with 25 points.
The United States currently sits ninth overall, having amassed only 11 points.

The first day comprised four fleet races conducted in winds ranging from 17 to 22 knots.
On Sunday, two additional fleet races are set to take place, followed by a finals competition featuring the top three teams.
Forecasts suggest that stronger winds are expected for the second day.
This Auckland event marks the second leg of the SailGP series, following the inaugural event in Dubai last November.
Importantly, this also marks the first race using the new T-Foils, which have replaced the older L-Foils, enhancing speed, stability, and responsiveness for the teams.

Competitors have noted that the new foils provide a perception of larger and more powerful vessels.
During Saturday’s races, many boats hit speeds nearly triple that of the prevailing wind.
New Zealand’s helmsman, Peter Burling, remarked on the significant advantages of the T-Foils, stating, “They make a huge difference, to be honest.
Today’s wind was probably on the lighter side, and it’s impressive how quickly they respond. There’s a lot more to play with.”

Typically, the SailGP fleet consists of 12 boats; however, only 11 participated in Auckland due to technical issues faced by France.
In the opening race, Spain finished first while New Zealand lagged in last place.
Britain initially fell behind Spain but took the lead at the first gate and maintained it throughout six more legs, ultimately crossing the finish line first.
Spain secured second place, with Italy finishing third despite a penalty at the race’s start.
Meanwhile, New Zealand maneuvered through the fleet, finishing fourth, followed by Australia, Denmark, and the United States in fifth, sixth, and seventh places, respectively.

In the second race, the United States took an early lead at the start line and reached the third gate first.
However, they suffered a severe crash on the fourth leg, after rising too high on their foils, losing lift, and crashing nose-first due to a sudden gust of wind.
Australia capitalized on this mishap, winning the race, followed by Britain, Italy, and Spain, while Team USA managed to rebound from last to finish sixth.

Race three saw Germany unable to start due to hydraulic failures.
Switzerland took a commanding lead, winning the race, providing much-needed momentum after their struggles in the earlier series.
Australia finished second after a competitive battle with Canada, while the United States struggled again, failing to maintain their foils and finishing tenth.

Germany restarted for race four, wherein New Zealand showcased its prowess by promptly returning to winning form after earlier placements of fourth, eighth, and sixth.
New Zealand swiftly hit the start line, securing a two-second lead over Australia at the first gate, managing to extend their lead as the race progressed despite the tough competition throughout the day.
The United States faltered again, touching down near the end in race four, wrapping up the day with results of seventh, sixth, and two tenth-place finishes.
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