Please select your home edition
Edition
Hyde Sails 2024 - One Design

Extraordinary comeback sees Australia storm to victory in Chicago

by SailGP 19 Jun 2022 21:34 PDT 18-19 February 2023
Australia SailGP Team helmed by Tom Slingsby celebrate winning by sailing by spectators on Navy Pier on Race Day 2 of the T-Mobile United States Sail Grand Prix | Chicago at Navy Pier, Lake Michigan, Season 3, in Chicago, Illinois, USA. 19th June 2022 © Simon Bruty for SailGP

The Australia SailGP Team continues to set the championship benchmark in SailGP Season 3, as Tom Slingsby pulled off an impressive recovery to not only steal a last-minute spot in the event final, but overcome Great Britain and Canada to win the T-Mobile United States Sail Grand Prix | Chicago at Navy Pier.

Australia had looked set to miss its first event final since the France Sail Grand Prix in Saint-Tropez last September - after a last place finish in the day two opener - but went on to win the day's second race and edge Peter Burling's New Zealand out of a place in the final.

Slingsby then led Australia to a fifth straight final victory in SailGP as he led from start to finish in the three-boat final to open up a handy lead in the Season 3 standings after just two events.

Slingsby said: "Our team is just really good under pressure, I have always known that but it's nice for them to be recognized for it and for everyone to see how unbelievable they are. I know if we have a high-pressure situation, the team will perform."

For the second day running, the grandstands of Navy Pier were packed under sunny skies as Chicago SailGP fans turned out in force. The light winds meant a change to the F50 configuration, with teams racing with the largest 29 meter wing sail which still enabled the boats to foil in the lighter conditions and the day's top speed was 66kph - more than four times the average wind speed of the day.

Australia team strategist Nina Curtis said Chicago had been a very special place for the team to race. Curtis said: "It was just so cool, you could see the crowd and feel the energy. We had a few awesome sail-bys at the end and it was unreal."

For the second straight event final, Phil Robertson's Canada and Ben Ainslie's Great Britain were Australia's rivals for the title, with both left to rue what might have been after falling behind to Australia's fast start and never recovering.

Robertson improved his team's position from third in Bermuda to a second place finish on Lake Michigan in what continues to be an impressive debut to the championship.

Robertson said: "I think it's all been above expectations, I mean it's blowing my mind, obviously we are very happy and to be honest we are in a position we didn't expect to be, and it's an amazing entry. We are just riding this wave at the moment and hoping we can stay on it."

Ainslie was left regretting tactical decisions that saw his team fail to overcome Australia once again in a final.

Ainslie said: "If I could whirl that race back, there are a lot of things I would have done differently. It's a really interesting dynamic when you have three boats, you can't afford to try and get too tied up with one boat as the other boat will just nip in and steal it. We had a plan for the prestart which we didn't execute that well and in hindsight we might have changed that."

Elsewhere it was a day to savor for the France SailGP Team and driver Quentin Delapierre, as he claimed his first ever SailGP win, dominating the day's first race with an impressive display. But it was a weekend to forget for the home team as Jimmy Spithill and the U.S. SailGP Team finished eighth on the event ladder with the sole highlight a rallying third place in the event's final fleet race.

Attention now turns to the European leg of the championship which kicks off in Plymouth - Britain's Ocean City - for the Great Britain Sail Grand Prix on July 30 and 31.

Ainslie said: "Now we are looking forward to Plymouth. Getting out in front of our home crowd. Hopefully we get some good conditions and some strong winds. It will be great to get the crowds up on Plymouth Hoe, it's a natural amphitheater for this style of racing and it's going to be great."

Tickets are already on sale, head to SailGP.com/Plymouth for more information, and for details on how to watch the action in Plymouth head to SailGP.com/watch.

T-MOBILE UNITED STATES SAIL GRAND PRIX | CHICAGO AT NAVY PIER // FINAL STANDINGS

1 // Australia // 10 points
2 // Canada // 9 points
3 // Great Britain // 8 points
4 // New Zealand // 7 points
5 // France // 6 points
6 // Denmark // 5 points
7 // Spain // 4 points
8 // United States// 3 points
9 // Switzerland // 2 points

Individual race results can be found at SailGP.com/results.

SAILGP SEASON 3 CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS // (after two events)

1 // Australia // 20 points
2 // Canada // 17 points
3 // Great Britain // 17 points
4 // New Zealand // 12 points
5 // Denmark // 12 points
6 // France // 9 points
7 // United States // 9 points
8 // Spain // 8 points
9 // Switzerland // 4 points

Related Articles

SailGP to Kick Off Summer in New York
With this Weekend's Mubadala New York Sail Grand Prix An unforgettable weekend of high-speed, close-to-shore racing and world-class entertainment will take place this weekend when the Mubadala New York Sail Grand Prix takes place in front of the most famous skyline in the world. Posted on 5 Jun
SailGP: Media Conference concludes in New York
Skippers speak ahead of the Mubadala New York Sail Grand Prix The media conference ahead of the Mubadala New York Sail Grand Prix has concluded, without any special points being revealed, save for Brazil lending a crew member to Germany. Posted on 5 Jun
Should SailGP ditch the wings?
As SailGP resumes in New York this weekend, we ask the question As SailGP resumes in New York this weekend, we ask the question of whether the F50's solid wingsails should be ditched and replaced instead with twin-skin mainsails, in a similar way to what is used on the AC75 and AC40 of the America's Cup. Posted on 5 Jun
SailGP Racing on the Edge Season 5 Episode 5
Los Gallos revisit their SailGP Season 4 triumph Get a behind the scenes look at the inner workings of the SailGP Season 4 Champions as they return to winning territory – facing personal and professional challenges head on. Posted on 3 Jun
Italian SailGP Team acquired by investors
The consortium includes Hollywood royalty, Anne Hathaway SailGP has today announced that the Red Bull Italy SailGP Team, has officially been acquired by a consortium of accomplished investors and sports industry leaders, including Hollywood royalty, Anne Hathaway. Posted on 27 May
SailGP Docuseries Spotlights Spithill's Sacrifices
Showcasing growth of the most exciting racing on water SailGP announced it will launch its first-ever, long-form premium docuseries Uncharted next month in order to highlight how the global championship has flipped the narrative on traditional sailing through the lens of Jimmy Spithill. Posted on 21 May
Coutts gives some advice to ageing pro teams
Coutts sounds a warning to the 12 teams to refresh their talent and upskill younger sailors Speaking with Stevie Morrison at the SailGP Technologies facility in Southampton, UK, Coutts sounds a warning to the 12 teams to refresh their talent, upskill younger sailors, and bring them into the SailGP teams. Posted on 15 May
SailGP upgrades F50 fleet ahead of New York event
A series of upgrades are now under way to all 12 wingsails Following a full inspection and review, SailGP can confirm a series of upgrades are now under way to all 12 wingsails in the championship's fleet of high-speed F50 catamarans. Posted on 12 May
Diego Botin on 'getting back in the game'
After a slow start to SailGP Season 5 Young guns Spain may have swept to victory last season, stealing the Season 4 Championship title from under the noses of league heavyweights Australia and New Zealand, but they began the 2025 Season with a string of mixed results. Posted on 4 May
SailGP: Russell Coutts gives a progress report
Progresson on review of wingsail structures, new boat builds, and building up the spares inventory. SailGP CEO Russell Coutts has provided an update on the League's issues as it undertakes a review of the wingsail structures, new boat builds, and building up the spares inventory. Posted on 3 May
Hyde Sails 2024 - One DesignVaikobi 2024 DecemberPredictWind - Routing 728x90 BOTTOM