Great Britain SailGP Team have a scorcher on day one of the Dubai Sail Grand Prix
by GBR SailGP Team 13 Nov 2022 05:51 AEDT
12-13 November 2022
Great Britain SailGP Team helmed by Ben Ainslie in action on on Race Day 1 of the Dubai Sail Grand Prix presented by P&O Marinas in Dubai, United Arab Emirates © Ricardo Pinto for SailGP
The Great Britain SailGP Team finished top of the leader board after day one of racing in Dubai. Tricky light winds and one of the tightest race courses the team have sailed in the championship so far made for a day of needing to keep calm and eyes looking out of the boat for wind.
After a 6th place finish in the days opener, following a penalty to the British team at the final turning mark towards the finish with the Swiss team, the team bounced back in style to secure two first places in races two and three. Close racing saw the team snatch the lead from NZL in race two. And USA in race three. Both races were shortened with a dying breeze.
Dubai, November 2022 - The Great Britain SailGP Team finished top of the leader board after day one of racing in Dubai. Tricky light winds and one of the tightest race courses the team have sailed in the championship so far made for a day of needing to keep calm and eyes looking out of the boat for wind.
After a 6th place finish in the days opener, following a penalty to the British team at the final turning mark towards the finish with the Swiss team, the team bounced back in style to secure two first places in races two and three. Close racing saw the team snatch the lead from NZL in race two. And USA in race three. Both races were shortened with a dying breeze.
In the final race of the day the F50's crews dropped down to four-sailors, meaning Hannah Diamond moved from the strategist role to a grinder powering it home to take the top spot once again.
Reacting to the day's racing, Great Britain SailGP Team CEO Ben Ainslie said: "First race didn't go our way with us getting caught up with the Swiss team right at the finish line and the umpire call went against us, but we regrouped and had a couple of bullets in the next two races which in these light and tight conditions, is something we're really pleased with. Light winds has tended to be something we've struggled most with as a team and Rob Wilson, our coach, has put in a lot of analysis to try and guide us in the right direction, so was nice to see us maintaining speed especially in those tricker downward legs.
It was also great to see the fans out in full force today, Great Britain have a strong expat community in Dubai which was felt across the shoreline today - hoping for more breeze tomorrow so we can put on a good show for them."
Hannah Diamond added: "That was my first race four up in the grinder position and I love that role and being able to race in different positions when the wind conditions allow for it, so feeling really good after that day of sailing. It's great to see women getting more exposure in those back three roles as we're still lacking experience here compared to the people we're sailing with, but progression is coming and we'll get there."
British fans can catch The Great Britain SailGP Team back in action at 11am live on Sky Sports for free on SailGP's YouTube channel where they hope to have another great day of racing.