New Zealand spoils Great Britain's party in SailGP showdown
The Kiwis spoiled the party on the Solent, claiming their second event win of the season and third race victory of the weekend in a dramatic winner-take-all showdown that left the packed Portsmouth shoreline deflated.
Perfect sailing conditions greeted the fleet, with a nice, steady breeze providing ideal racing weather that allowed the high-speed F50 foiling catamarans to showcase their full potential as they approached speeds of 100 kph across the water.
Fletcher's Emirates GBR team looked destined for glory after commanding the leaderboard following a dominant opening day, but was edged out at the line when it mattered most. The Olympic gold medalist was left to rue what might have been.
Switzerland added its own slice of history by reaching its first-ever SailGP final, though its fairytale run was cruelly cut short by technical gremlins that left the team out of contention in the decider.
The day's drama wasn't confined to the final, with France bouncing back from its own technical woes to seize victory in Race 6 — but only after a farcical interruption when a rogue spectator boat invaded the course and forced a restart.
Twelve national teams had battled across seven fleet races for the coveted spots in the three-boat final, with Emirates GBR, New Zealand and Switzerland emerging from the pack as fans buzzed with anticipation along the shoreline.
The victory propelled New Zealand to the summit of the overall SailGP championship leaderboard with 54 points, nudging ahead of Australia (BONDS Flying Roos) which has 52 points and Spain with 51. Britain's wait for a home event victory continues, despite accumulating a long list of SailGP podiums around the world.
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Japan Times
3 days ago
- Japan Times
New Zealand spoils Great Britain's party in SailGP showdown
Peter Burling's New Zealand team crashed what should have been a triumphant home celebration, pipping Dylan Fletcher's British crew to victory in a nail-biting final at the Emirates Great Britain Sail Grand Prix on Sunday. The Kiwis spoiled the party on the Solent, claiming their second event win of the season and third race victory of the weekend in a dramatic winner-take-all showdown that left the packed Portsmouth shoreline deflated. Perfect sailing conditions greeted the fleet, with a nice, steady breeze providing ideal racing weather that allowed the high-speed F50 foiling catamarans to showcase their full potential as they approached speeds of 100 kph across the water. Fletcher's Emirates GBR team looked destined for glory after commanding the leaderboard following a dominant opening day, but was edged out at the line when it mattered most. The Olympic gold medalist was left to rue what might have been. Switzerland added its own slice of history by reaching its first-ever SailGP final, though its fairytale run was cruelly cut short by technical gremlins that left the team out of contention in the decider. The day's drama wasn't confined to the final, with France bouncing back from its own technical woes to seize victory in Race 6 — but only after a farcical interruption when a rogue spectator boat invaded the course and forced a restart. Twelve national teams had battled across seven fleet races for the coveted spots in the three-boat final, with Emirates GBR, New Zealand and Switzerland emerging from the pack as fans buzzed with anticipation along the shoreline. The victory propelled New Zealand to the summit of the overall SailGP championship leaderboard with 54 points, nudging ahead of Australia (BONDS Flying Roos) which has 52 points and Spain with 51. Britain's wait for a home event victory continues, despite accumulating a long list of SailGP podiums around the world.
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