USA Clinches Glory @ KPMG Sydney SailGP

by Tyler Letren, Feb 28th 2026

Sydney Harbour played host to one of the most thrilling weekends in SailGP history, as thirteen nations faced off across eight races for the ultimate prize; and what a weekend it was.

Day One:

Setting the Scene

Racing kicked off with Denmark charging hard across the start line in Race One, only to quickly find the home crowd's beloved Aussies bearing down on them. When the dust settled, it was Austria taking the bullet, Denmark in second, and Emirates GBR rounding out the podium in third.

Race Two belonged to the Europeans early on, with Switzerland, Spain, and Brazil pulling away from the rest of the fleet and leaving everyone else for dead. That was until the Americans had other ideas, hunting down Brazil to sneak onto the podium. Spain took the win, Switzerland second, and USA third.

Race Three got spicy before it even started, penalties for early starts handed out to the Flying Roos, Denmark, and Germany, while USA, Brazil, and Switzerland were caught on late starts. Out of the chaos, Spain surged to the front and never looked back. Spain first, Sweden second, and Italy third in what was a brilliant result for the Scandinavians.

Australia bounced back emphatically in Race Four, storming to first place, with Germany in second and USA picking up another third.

Day Two:

Drama on the Harbour

Race Five near Shark Island was a slow burner — think 2023 Chicago levels of patience-testing light winds. But slow and steady apparently wins the race, because Emirates GBR crossed the line first, with Spain in second and USA in third. A near photo-finish between Brazil and Australia added some late drama, with Brazil just edging it for fifth.

Race Six? USA simply showed up and showed out. Leading from the start, and despite GBR feeling somewhat hard done by mid-race, the Americans built a lead that was nothing short of breathtaking. USA took the win, Germany second, Denmark third.

Race Seven saw the wind finally fill in properly, and Denmark's Nicolai Schested made the most of it — crossing the line in first, with Italy close behind and Canada not far off in third.

The Grand Prix Final:

USA, Spain & GBR

When it came down to it, USA, Spain, and GBR were the three crews left standing for the Grand Prix final showdown. Pre-race, GBR looked like the smart money. And for a moment, it really did look that way.

Then Taylor Canfield and the United States crew happened.

In a jaw-dropping finale, USA seized control and never gave it back — crossing the line to claim the 2026 KPMG Sydney Sail Grand Prix. GBR and Spain completed the podium, but make no mistake — this was America's weekend.

What. A. Race.