Bermuda Sail Grand Prix Day 2 - Some soul searching after Australians win third event

by Sail-World.com/nz 10 May 20:07 PDT 9-10 May 2026

B Flying Roos SailGP Team alongside Emirates Great Britain SailGP Team and DS Automobiles SailGP Team France - Race Day 1 of the Apex Group Bermuda Sail Grand Prix © Bob Martin/SailGP

Australia's Flying Roos secured their third win from five events, in Season 6. However there was some soul-searching amongst the team who had been handily placed, but failed to step up.

Tom Slingsby (AUS) again showed why he is the dominant skipper in the League since its inception. With their third event win, the Australians have moved out to a 10-point lead on the Season 6 leaderboard from over Season 5 Grand Final Champions, Emirates GBR, with the fast-improving Los Gallos (ESP), just 1 point back. The USA team is a further 3pts back on 31pts.

From there on, at almost the mid-point of Season 6, it will be a long way back for the rest of the 14 boat fleet, through inconsistent performance, or boat damage or both. Again in Bermuda, there were crew injuries - with super-sub Glenn Ashby breaking a leg - requiring surgery, and the French team lost another couple of races.

The situation on the final day was not helped by the choice of the high-speed foils and smaller 24m wingsail - rewarding the more established combinations who had the on-board communications and routines sorted between the foil controller, helm and wingsail trimmer.

It would seem that the SailGP events are being controlled by the need to have the finish line off the Adrenaline Lounge, VIP areas and the grandstand, if there is one.

"The start box is quite challenging, and then the top of the course. I guess it's just becoming a feature where they just put the start and the top marks in the worst possible place and make us race in it," opined Artemis Racing, and current America's Cup champion co-helmsman, Nathan Outteridge.

"But around the course, down the bottom of the course, there was really good breeze and good passing lanes."

Artemis Racing lost the first day of racing with a setup issue on the bowsprit by the shore team. While they got onto the water, they had to return to shore when the issue was detected, and the F50 was craned out.

Red Bull Italy was another team that had boat issues, but struggled through the three races on Sunday.

"We had another hydraulic issue with the boat," said skipper Phil Robertson. "Actually, it was the same issue as yesterday. So there was a lot of oil all over the boat. It was a very slippery platform today, all day, which is not so pleasant when you're running across it at high speeds."

"We managed to get off the start Line in Race 1, but had no pressure in the whole system -so no wing functions."

"We were in a great position, but couldn't accelerate. It was a tricky day. We were just sort of mid-pack, battling away the whole day. It all stemmed from the issues pre race," he added.

Day 2 Highlights - Races 5-7 and the Final: