Please select your home edition
Edition
Allen Dynamic 40 Leaderboard

SailGP: Emirates GBR snatches lead to win Final

by Richard Gladwell, Sail-World NZ 8 Feb 21:31 PST
Emirates GBR win the Final - Race Day 2 - KPMG Australia Sail Grand Prix - Sydney, Australia - February 9, 2025 © Ricardo Pinto/SailGP

Emirates GBR SailGP team, helmed by America's Cup co-helm, Dylan Fletcher staged a come from behind win to win the Final of Event 3 in KPMG Australia SailGP, sailed on Sydney Harbour.

Sir Ben Ainslie had the best news after a torrid few weeks, when his team made a bold move on the penultimate leg to move through Northstar Canada, helmed by double Olympic Gold medalist Giles Scott.

"We've had an amazing day today," Scott said from on the water immediately after the race finish. "We're super happy with second place. But I'm sitting here right now with a few 'what-ifs'. We were in a great spot with an amazingly good lead. The Brits did a nice job of picking up a big shift on that right hand side. That was it for us. We're just happy to get on the podium today for the fist time, as a squad."

A lot of the credit for the Emirates GBR win must go to strategist Hannah Mills, also a double Olympic Gold medalist. She made the call to take the right hand gate, after the Canadians had taken the left. On the split tacks, the Brits were sailing visibly higher heading for the back of Shark Island, and when the Canadians tacked to cover the British move, they were close to pointing up the Brits' transom. It was a big turn around in a short space of time from the mark rounding.

Mills also made an excellent call getting the layline to the Gate 5 perfectly lined up, allowing Fletcher to tack below the Canadians lateline, and squeeze around Shark Island and then Mark 5, without having to make another tack. Despite the Canadians trying to sail a lower faster angle, Fletcher was able to stay ahead, only having to make a critical gybe before heading for the finish and taking the Event win.

Related Articles

SailGP 2025 season technological advances
Advanced AI integration and new fan experiences put SailGP at the forefront of the industry The 2025 season of the Rolex SailGP Championship will be the most technologically advanced in sailing history as the league heads to the world's epicenter of tech - San Francisco. Posted on 18 Mar
SailGP: Reflections on Los Angeles
Giles Scott looks back on the Canadian win. Peter Burling and Tom Slingsby reflect on missed chances Giles Scott looks back on the Canadian win, Peter Burling and Tom Slingsby on their shortcomings, and what cost them the win in the Final. Plus some analyis of the rest of the fleet and the fickle foibles of foiling F50s in Los Angeles. Posted on 18 Mar
Canada claims first season win
At Rolex Los Angeles Sail Grand Prix Northstar Canada claimed their inaugural win of the 2025 Season - the first for the team since March 2023 (Season 3) and the first with double Olympic gold medalist Giles Scott as driver. Posted on 17 Mar
SailGP: Stellar Finals win for Northstar Canada
Northstar Canada team turned in a superlative performance to win the Rolex Los Angeles SailGP The regrouped Northstar Canada team turned in a superlative performance in the Final Day of Rolex Los Angeles SailGP, to score a big win - their first under Giles Scott (GBR) as skipper - and their first in two years. Posted on 16 Mar
Rolex Los Angeles Sail Grand Prix Start Analysis
Video looking at the different strategies and what positions paid off Mark Jardine, Managing Editor of Sail-World.com and YachtsandYachting.com, takes a look at the different strategies and what positions paid off, and also looks at Rockwool Team Denmark's collision with a leeward gate mark. Posted on 16 Mar
Blistering Black Foils: New Zealand sits in first
After Day 1 of the Rolex Los Angeles Sail Grand Prix New Zealand sits first on the event leaderboard with 31 points, winning two of four fleet races on the opening day of the Rolex Los Angeles Sail Grand Prix. Northstar Canada and Australia are close behind with 28 points and 27 points, respectively. Posted on 16 Mar
SailGP: BlackFoils lead after Day 1 of Los Angeles
The New Zealand Blackfoils team top the leaderboard after four races were sailed on Day 1 of SailGP The New Zealand Blackfoils team top the leaderboard after four races were sailed on Day 1 of SailGP Los Angeles. Northstar Canada helmed by double Olympic Gold medalist, Giles Scott (GBR) is second overall. Posted on 15 Mar
Rolex Los Angeles Sail Grand Prix begins tomorrow
A 12-nation fleet competing for the very first time The most exciting racing on water returns to Los Angeles tomorrow, with a 12-nation fleet competing for the very first time. Posted on 15 Mar
Rolex Los Angeles Sail Grand Prix preview
The action-packed weekend promises an unforgettable display of precision and teamwork The Rolex SailGP Championship heads to Los Angeles on March 15-16, bringing together the world's most accomplished sailors for two days of intense racing on identical F50 foiling catamarans. Posted on 13 Mar
SailGP set to return to Saint-Tropez
The most exciting racing on water will return to the French Riviera in September The most exciting racing on water will return to the French Riviera, with SailGP confirming today the addition of Saint-Tropez to the 2025 Season Calendar. Posted on 5 Mar
Doyle_SailWorld_728X90px-04 BOTTOMHyde Sails 2024 - One DesignCyclops Marine 2023 November - FOOTER