AUCKLAND, New Zealand — Australia triumphed in the New Zealand stage of the SailGP series on Sunday, solidifying their lead throughout the competition by defeating both Spain and Britain in the final event featuring three boats.
The three-time champions from Australia executed a flawless performance in the challenging gusty conditions during the final, finishing 22 seconds ahead of Spain, while Britain placed third.
After two events in the current season, both Britain and New Zealand are tied at the top of the series standings with 17 points each. Australia and Spain follow closely behind with 16 points apiece. The role of the Australian team now shifts as they prepare for their next competition set to take place in Sydney on February 8 and 9.
Following four initial fleet races on the first day, Australia emerged with a commanding lead, accumulating 34 points, followed by Britain with 27 points, Spain with 26, and New Zealand trailing with 25 points.
Continuing on the second day, Australia secured victory in the first of the three fleet races and finished in second place in the next race, effectively ensuring their spot in the final. However, they had to withdraw from the third race due to a technical issue.
In the final race, Australia executed a great start, mirroring their performance from the earlier heats that day. While the boats were closely aligned at the first gate, Australia managed to round it just ahead of Spain, while Britain lost speed and fell behind near the gate, diminishing their chances of clinching a victory.
Although Spain made some headway by separating from the pack on the fifth of the seven legs, Australia maintained their advantage, stretching their lead further on the sixth leg to achieve a comfortable win.
The day’s winds reached 32 knots, creating choppy waters in Auckland, which was hosting a SailGP event for the first time. These conditions tested the teams and the newly introduced T-Foils that were utilized during this competition.
Unfortunately, Canada was unable to compete on the second day due to an injury to one of their team members, and France withdrew from the Auckland event because of equipment complications.
Spain recorded the highest speed on the final day, reaching 96 kph (59.6 mph). For their efforts, Australia earned 10 points, while Spain secured 9 points, and Britain received 8 points in the overall series standings.
SailGP features 12 national teams racing identical 50-foot foiling catamarans, utilizing foils that enable the vessels to rise above the water and “fly” at speeds reaching 100 km/h (60 mph). The series comprises 13 events leading up to the finale set for Dubai in late November.