New Zealand Triumphs After High-Drama Weekend

The SailGP fleet descended on Portsmouth for a weekend of high-octane racing, tight duels, and unexpected setbacks. Across two days, teams battled shifting winds, technical issues, and each other for critical season points.

Day One — Early Drama and Tactical Duels

The event opened with a major blow for France, who were forced to withdraw after suffering significant wing damage during pre-race preparations. Despite hopes of a quick fix, the French F50 was sidelined for the entire day.

Race One saw Great Britain and New Zealand lead the fleet over the line, with Denmark charging into second as New Zealand slipped back to third. Penalties scattered the fleet as Italy faced infractions, while Brazil and USA scrapped for the final leaderboard points. The race ended with Great Britain, New Zealand, and Denmark taking the top spots.

Race One Top Three:
🥇 Great Britain
🥈 New Zealand
🥉 Denmark

Race Two featured a powerful start by Switzerland, holding the lead with Italy close behind. Great Britain chased from third, showing the highest speeds of the fleet, hitting up to 80 kilometers per hour. Despite their pace, they could not overtake the leaders.

Race Two Top Three:
🥇 Switzerland
🥈 Great Britain
🥉 Italy

In Race Three, early start penalties caught out both Brazil and USA, setting them back from the opening seconds. New Zealand controlled the race from the front, with Denmark and Spain in pursuit. Canada also picked up a penalty during the race. New Zealand took the win, followed by Switzerland and Great Britain.

Race Three Top Three:
🥇 New Zealand
🥈 Switzerland
🥉 Great Britain

Race Four saw Australia lead the fleet off the line with Brazil pressing hard until a boundary penalty dropped them back. Italy and Great Britain engaged in a tight battle for podium positions. By the sixth leg, Great Britain was penalized for a foul against Australia, opening the door for Germany to climb into fourth. Brazil compounded their troubles with a second penalty before the finish.

Race Four Top Three:
🥇 Australia
🥈 Italy
🥉 Great Britain

Day Two — The Return of France and Kiwi Masterclass

After an overnight rebuild effort, France returned to the racecourse with a wing assembled from both salvaged and new parts. Meanwhile, USA faced technical issues that forced them to sit out Races Five and Six.

In Race Five, Canada led the fleet across the start, closely followed by New Zealand. Germany picked up an early penalty after fouling Great Britain, while Switzerland was penalized for a boundary infringement. New Zealand fought a close battle with Canada before surging ahead for the win. Great Britain claimed third, and Germany received another penalty at the finish. A near collision between Brazil and Italy at the final mark left Italy with a costly penalty.

Race Five Top Three:
🥇 New Zealand
🥈 Canada
🥉 Great Britain

Race Six began chaotically when a spectator’s rowboat drifted onto the course, forcing the race to be abandoned and restarted. On the restart, New Zealand collected a pre-start penalty, while Brazil was also penalized. Switzerland led around the first mark but quickly fell behind as France surged to the front and maintained their lead. Australia took a penalty mid-race, while Switzerland clawed back to finish second with Italy in third.

Race Six Top Three:
🥇 France
🥈 Switzerland
🥉 Italy

Race Seven marked the return of USA, though Great Britain opted out. France started strong, with a fierce contest between France, New Zealand, and Switzerland for the lead. Spain received a penalty, and USA suffered another infringement despite trailing the field. New Zealand powered through to secure victory, France took second, and Canada raced into third.

Race Seven Top Three:
🥇 New Zealand
🥈 France
🥉 Canada

Grand Final — New Zealand Claims the Crown

The Grand Final brought together New Zealand, Switzerland, and Great Britain for a high-stakes decider. Great Britain charged into an early lead alongside Switzerland, while New Zealand played a patient game in third.

Halfway through the race, New Zealand found clear breeze and overtook both leaders. Switzerland suffered a technical problem, leaving New Zealand and Great Britain to fight for the win. In the final stretch, New Zealand pulled away for a decisive victory, with Great Britain in second and Switzerland holding on for third.

Grand Final Result:
🥇 New Zealand
🥈 Great Britain
🥉 Switzerland

In the end

New Zealand’s commanding performance in Portsmouth showcased their tactical strength, top speed, and resilience under pressure. With consistent podium finishes across both days and a clutch performance in the Grand Final, the Kiwis proved why they remain the team to beat this SailGP season.