AUCKLAND, New Zealand — On Sunday, Australia claimed victory in the New Zealand leg of the SailGP series, showcasing their dominance throughout the competition and securing a win over Spain and Britain in the final featuring three boats.
The three-time champions from Australia executed a perfect race amidst challenging, gusty conditions, finishing 22 seconds ahead of Spain, while Britain took third place.
With two events completed this season, Britain and New Zealand are currently tied for the top position in the series standings, each garnering 17 points. Australia and Spain follow closely behind with 16 points each. The Australian team is now set to compete in their home event in Sydney on February 8 and 9.
During the first day of racing, Australia ended up in the lead after four fleet races, accumulating 34 points. Britain secured 27 points, followed by Spain with 26 points and the host nation New Zealand at 25 points.
On day two, Australia continued their strong performance by winning the initial fleet race. They then finished second in the next race to solidify their spot in the final, although they were forced to withdraw from a subsequent race due to technical difficulties.
In the final, Australia effectively maintained their lead from the very beginning, mirroring the successful starts they achieved in the earlier races of the day. At the first gate, Australia was slightly ahead, while Britain’s boat encountered difficulties, losing speed and settling back.
Though Spain attempted to close the gap during the fifth of the seven legs, Australia successfully held onto their lead and expanded it during the sixth leg, securing the victory comfortably.
Wind conditions reached up to 32 knots on race day in Auckland, which was hosting a SailGP event for the first time. These challenging conditions tested the teams as they navigated using the new T-Foils, which were also being introduced for this event.
Both Canada and France faced challenges, with Canada unable to race on day two due to an injury sustained by a team member, while France withdrew because of equipment issues.
Spain recorded the highest speed of the day at 96 kph (59.6 mph), with Australia earning 10 points, Spain picking up 9, and Britain adding 8 points to their series totals.
SailGP features 12 national teams competing in identical 50-foot foiling catamarans, equipped with foils that enable the boats to “fly” above the water surface, reaching speeds of up to 100 km/h (60 mph). The championship consists of 13 events leading up to a grand finale in Dubai set for late November.
