Emirates Dubai Sail Grand Prix presented by P&O Marinas - Day 1
by SailGP 24 Nov 2024 02:22 AEDT
23-24 November 2024
The SailGP fleet in action with Mubadala Brazil SailGP Team and Canada NorthStar SailGP Team in the foreground during racing on Race Day 1 of the Emirates Dubai Sail Grand Prix presented by P&O Marinas in Dubai, UAE © Simon Bruty for SailGP
SailGP's largest-ever fleet (11 national teams) descended upon Dubai's Port Mina Rashid for the official start of the 2025 Season of the Rolex SailGP Championship.
Fans in the Race Stadium got front row seats to the action and skill, with light-air, technical racing playing out just meters from the shoreline.
Showing consistency is key, Australia and New Zealand lead the fleet heading into day two, with 24 and 23 points, respectively. The battle for the third spot in tomorrow's winner-takes-all event final is also on, with just three points separating eighth from third on the event standings. Six teams in contention - Emirates Great Britain, Canada and the U.S. SailGP Team, each with 18 points, plus Switzerland (17), Spain (16) and Germany (15).
The U.S. SailGP Team secured the win in the first fleet race of the day - a flashback to the last time the team raced in the UAE, delivering a strong performance in ultra light conditions. Getting out in front from the start and holding strong to the end - the team crossed the finish line first, in their new-look 'Lady Liberty' F50.
Driver Taylor Canfield said: "We were really excited about the first win, which wasn't necessarily the aim but our goal is to always be consistent and just happy to get the nerves out of the way. It's a tricky course and sometimes hard to know what to do but we just have to back ourselves and make some minor adjustments for tomorrow, and we'll be ready."
The conditions picked up as the action continued, and patchy winds played in favor of the Australia SailGP Team - slingshotting the Flying Roo across the startline and providing the three-time SailGP champions with a solid lead in fleet race two. Placing third, fifth and first over the course of the first day, the Aussies landed themselves on top of the overall leaderboard - only one point ahead of familiar rivals, Peter Burling's Black Foils (New Zealand).
Tom Slingsby, driver of the Australia SailGP Team said: "It was real snakes and ladders out there. We had a good day and a good start to the season but we know we have a lot to do over the weekend. Chris Draper has great ability in the light airs and provides us with great experience and we are really happy to have him on the team."
Hot on Aussie heels was return driver, Dylan Fletcher, of the Emirates Great Britain SailGP Team - proving he hasn't missed a beat since his first season in the global racing championship. Emirates Great Britain finished the day in third on points overall.
Fletcher said: "It was quite a hectic day for everyone, first time in a big wing and just excited to get racing. It's so tough but with Luke [Parkinson] and Hannah [Mills] in those conditions, they've got the experience, so it feels very different in the big wing to the small wing. We know that we need two good races tomorrow to be in the final but we're just taking each race that comes and trying to stay out of trouble to be honest."
Dubai marked the racing debut for Ruggero Tita and the Red Bull Italy SailGP Team, and Martine Grael and Mubadala Brazil SailGP Team. Grael picked up crucial points with a slingshot maneuver around the final mark in fleet face three, scoring the team an impressive sixth-place finish in front of a packed grandstand cheering for the double Olympic Gold medalist.
Some doubt was cast on trans-Tasman rivals New Zealand and Australia heading into the weekend, with both teams being forced to replace key athletes poached during the off-season transfer window - Kyle Langford (AUS to ITA) and Andy Maloney (NZL to BRA). However, the absence of the pair did not seem to be felt in either team - at least not in today's calm breeze.
Burling said: "It feels like it's been a long time since we've been racing and it was a tough and shifty day. It was a pretty pleasing day for us with the changes on board that we managed to perform at that level so quickly. Blair [Tuke] and Leo [Takahashi] are doing a super job getting the boat to go so fast in those conditions so I'm pleased with those three races."
It's all to play for tomorrow - the second and final day of the Emirates Dubai Sail Grand Prix, presented by P&O Marinas The 2025 Season opener was followed by live entertainment from world-renowned star, Tinie Tempah. Tomorrow, Craig David will join the show, providing après-sail entertainment for fans following prize-giving. Remaining tickets to the event are on sale now at SailGP.com/dubai. Find out how to watch at SailGP.com/Watch.
Emirates Dubai Sail Grand Prix presented by P&O Marinas day one leaderboard
1. Australia 24 points
2. New Zealand 23 points
3. Emirates Great Britain 18 points
4. Canada 18 points
5. United States 18 points
6. Switzerland 17 points
7. Spain 16 points
8. Germany 15 points
9. Rockwool Denmark 7 points
10. Mubadala Brazil 6 points
11. Red Bull Italy 3 points