SailGP: Day 2 - Dubai - Black Foils come away from Dubai USD$400k richer
by Richard Gladwell, Sail-World NZ 24 Nov 2024 08:32 EST
Peter Burling, co-CEO and driver of New Zealand SailGP Team on the podium as they spray rose water in celebration with the New Zealand SailGP Team on Race Day 2 of the Emirates Dubai Sail Grand Prix © Christopher Pike/SailGP
New Zealand, USA and Great Britain got their Season 5 away to a good start - making the Final of Event 1, in Dubai.
Light winds prevailed again - but stronger than yesterday - allowing the 11 crews to get foiling at least occasionally.
Spain got the best start in Race 4, stacked up to windward, and was first at the end of the Sprint Leg to Mark1. They held their lead around Gate 2, before the Kiwis moved in on Leg 3, and led through to the finish. Their task was made a lot easier by the next six competitors trying to round Gate 3 at the same time, and most coming off their foils in the process.
Spain was second, with Emirates GBR also having a good day to finish third.
Rockwool Denmark had an end to end win in Race 5 - a highlight of what was otherwise a disappointing event with 1,5,6,9 11 scorecard. USA placed second after breaking back into the top bunch on Leg 5 - which was sufficient for them to make the cut for the three boat Final - a big step up from their performance in Season 4. Placing in the top three in each of the last three races, earned Emirates GBR second overall and a place in the three boat final.
Final: New Zealand got away to a a faster start than the other two, however their race started to unravel around Gate 2, when they went left gate followed by Emirates GBR, while the USA picked up more pressure on the right hand side, and round Gate 3 in first place, with the Brits also turning in a good place on Leg 4. However the Kiwi team, race sharpened in the America's Cup which finished a month earlier seemed to find some extra boatspeed - which they put on good use, and took away 50% of the USD$800,000 which is on offer at each event in Season 5.
The second event in Season 5 will be held in Auckland in mid-January. It will be the first time a SailGP regatta has been sailed on the Waitemata Harbour.