Emirates GBR 'focused on getting back on top' as SailGP returns to New York this weekend
by Emirates GBR SailGP Team 29 May 06:20 PDT
29 May 2026
Emirates GBR Wing Trimmer Stuart Bithell MBE, Driver Dylan Fletcher MBE, and Grinders Nick Hutton and Neil Hunter in Times Square © SailGP
Emirates GBR Driver Dylan Fletcher said the team was "focused on getting back on top" as SailGP returns to New York this weekend. The sixth event of the 2026 Season will see teams racing on the Hudson River, with the backdrop of Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty, as 6,000 spectators gather to witness the fast and furious racing in action.
After winning the 2025 Season Grand Final and claiming podiums at the first three events of this season, Emirates GBR set high standards for performance, but at the most recent two events in Bermuda and Rio, the team faced difficulties.
"Ultimately, we know we haven't been performing at the level expected of us at the last two events," Fletcher said.
"But it's an up and down season and we are making sure we're focused on getting back on top - and being in that place when it comes to the Grand Final. We had our ups and downs last season but we delivered when it mattered most, and at the moment it feels like we are in a good place, so hopefully we can perform well this weekend."
Emirates GBR enters the weekend in second place on the 2026 Season leaderboard on 35 points, one point ahead of Spain's Los Gallos in third, while Australia's BONDS Flying Roos are top on 45 points.
Competing on the Hudson River presents a brutal, high-stakes tactical challenge for teams, as shifting urban breezes, strong river currents, and tightly compressed race boundaries demand split-second decision-making and flawless crew communication. As the championship reaches its halfway mark and the season standings tighten, New York represents a critical, make-or-break opportunity for teams desperate to build momentum heading into the back half of the season.
Emirates GBR Strategist Hannah Mills OBE said: "New York provides one of the most amazing racecourses with a backdrop of the Statue of Liberty and the Manhattan skyline - but it also presents challenges. It's a unique racecourse in the middle of a city with lots of current and lots of tide, it also has an island on the course - so there's a lot to navigate. The conditions are looking full on and with no practice racing at this event, we will be straight into action on race day one on Saturday - but we can't wait to get stuck in and hopefully deliver some strong results."
The SailGP fleet marked their arrival in New York by ringing the closing bell at the NASDAQ MarketSite in Times Square on Thursday. SailGP CEO and Co-Founder, Sir Russell Coutts, was joined by athletes from each of the 13 SailGP teams, including Emirates GBR Driver Dylan Fletcher MBE, as he rang the bell. The ceremony was beamed live on NASDAQ's Times Square billboard and was also broadcast on CNBC and Bloomberg.
While each team was featured on the iconic Times Square billboard, only one will have their name in lights when the weekend's racing culminates in the winner-takes-all event final between the top three teams on Sunday. The racing begins with four fleet races on Saturday, and UK viewers can watch the action live on TNT Sports 3 from 20:30 BST.