Aussies claim victory in Auckland for a second time
by SailGP Australia 15 Feb 04:09 UTC
14-15 February 2026
BONDS Flying Roos SailGP Team helmed by Tom Slingsby sail past the grandstand and city skyline on Race Day 2 of the ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix in Auckland, New Zealand © Simon Bruty for SailGP
The BONDS Flying Roos have stormed home to claim back-to-back victories at the ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix, defending their Auckland title with a masterclass display in challenging conditions.
In gusts of up to 45 km/h, the winner-takes-all Podium Final featured SailGP's only three Championship-winning teams as Australia faced Great Britain and Spain in an exhilarating sprint battle. After an early dogfight with Los Gallos, the BONDS Flying Roos clawed back to secure their second consecutive event victory in Auckland, capping a fiercely contested weekend in front of thousands of fans.
The event win marks the first for the three-time Rolex SailGP Champions since last season's triumph on the same waters (January 2025). Australia now moves to the top of the overall standings, tied on 19 points with Emirates GBR but leading on countback.
BONDS Flying Roos Driver and CEO Tom Slingsby said the victory was especially meaningful for the team after a long wait between event wins.
"It's huge for us to come away with the win here. It's been a year since our last event victory, so it's been a long time between drinks. We've been sailing really well, and it's nice to be rewarded for that. In those three-boat Finals anything can happen so to win the event points score and go into the Final feeling confident made a big difference."
Slingsby added, "There was a lot of wind in the pre-start and it was difficult to build momentum. At the start, I was just focused on staying on our feet and out of trouble. Spain got ahead early and kept it close but we managed to make the pass at the top mark. It was a great race - tight the whole way and we executed when it mattered."
Stepping in as 'super sub' for injured wing trimmer Iain Jensen, Australian sailing veteran Glenn Ashby delivered a standout performance, earning Athlete of the Day honours across Saturday and Sunday.
Slingsby said, "Glenn has been improving every day. It's hard to know where his ceiling is, but he's done an incredible job stepping into the team. We wouldn't be in this position with a second and a first in the opening two events without him. If this ends up being his last event with us, we're incredibly grateful. He's one of the best in the world and we're lucky to have someone like Glenn Ashby to call on."
Super Sunday delivered the fastest racing of the weekend, as the BONDS Flying Roos joined SailGP's exclusive 100 km/h club, setting a new team speed record.
Slingsby said his crew would carry their winning form to their next event on Sydney Harbour, where they will race in front of a home crowd of thousands on one of the most iconic stages in global sport.
"We can't wait for Sydney. It's our true home event, where most of us live, and it means everything to perform well there. If we could choose one event to win all year, it would be Sydney - that's our focus now."
Slingsby acknowledged the unique twilight racing conditions would present both opportunity and challenge.
"The conditions will be incredible but they also bring challenges. The sun sets in the west with a north-east breeze so glare can affect your vision on parts of the racecourse. It's something we'll need to manage carefully. I wish I could be enjoying the sunset with everyone on Shark Island, but for us it's all business. Twilight racing looks amazing but it will be full-on from start to finish," Slingsby said.
With limited tickets remaining, fans are encouraged to secure their spot at the highly anticipated KPMG Sydney Sail Grand Prix on 28 February-1 March to witness SailGP's thrilling speeds and world-class racing firsthand. Tickets are available at SailGP.com/Sydney.