ITM Auckland New Zealand 2025
Author: Tyler R Letren, CEO. Jan 19, 2025
The Auckland regatta, the second event of Season Five, saw significant developments in the SailGP league. The French team's absence from the second consecutive regatta raises concerns about their future in the league. If they fail to participate in the upcoming Sydney regatta, their position in Season 6 may be in jeopardy. Australia's consistent performance throughout the event, including their Grand Prix victory, solidifies their position as a top contender. Despite the change in skipper, Great Britain managed to secure a spot in the final race, demonstrating the team's depth and adaptability. Spain's presence in the Grand Prix final and their overall strong showing indicate they are a team to watch as the season progresses. Meanwhile, teams like Brazil and Germany showed moments of promise, suggesting potential for improvement in future regattas.
This weekend's regatta featured an unusual format with seven fleet races instead of six. Another major change was Dylan Fletcher stepping in to replace Sir Ben Ainslie for the British team.
Day One
Race 1
The opening race began with Red Bull Italy incurring a penalty before crossing the start line. Spain (ESP) led the fleet around Mark 1, with Great Britain (GBR), Spain, Germany (GER), and Italy (ITA) performing strongly early on. However, Spain received a penalty around Gate 4.
Italy outperforms Brazil.
GBR crossed the finish line first; ESP secured second place despite their earlier penalty. ITA third.
Meanwhile, Team USA made an impressive leap from 11th to 8th place but received a penalty for crossing the finish line too close to Canada (CAN), forcing Denmark and Germany into evasive manoeuvres.
Race 2
Lady Liberty (USA) led through Mark 1, closely followed by Australia (AUS) and GBR. Italy held fourth place while Brazil fluctuated between fifth and sixth positions. An early turn allowed AUS to briefly take the lead, but Lady Liberty quickly regained first place.
However, a strong gust caught Lady Liberty mid-turn, causing their F50 to nosedive into the water. This mishap dropped them down the leaderboard behind Brazil.
Aus holding first place with GBR behind, and ITA in third.
Race 3
Switzerland (SUI) started strong, leading the pack with AUS and CAN close behind. Team USA faced another splash near the final marks, dropping them several positions. Germany delivered an outstanding performance, while Brazil improved significantly from their earlier races.
Bra performed much better this race starting off in 6th and sp snagging 9th position the team managed to grab an 8th place finish. Which Italy
Race 4
New Zealand (NZL) crossed the finish line first in Race 4, followed by AUS in second and SUI in third.
NZL, AUS, SUI
Day Two
Race 5
Italy incurred a penalty around Leg 3, while Spain experienced a splash that disrupted their momentum. Germany maintained a solid fourth position as AUS and GBR battled for first place. Brazil struggled again, slipping down the leaderboard as Spain oscillated between second and fourth positions.
AUS GBR ITA
Race 6
Denmark (DEN) dominated this race, finishing first ahead of AUS and ESP. Brazil delivered a better performance than in previous races but still incurred a penalty.
DEN; AUS; ESP
Race 7
The final fleet race was full of drama as penalties plagued both USA and ITA early on. Denmark maintained their dominance by finishing first, with NZL pushing into second and ESP securing third place. BRA fought hard to climb into fourth after initially falling behind ESP. ITA dropped from second to sixth during this race.
Denmark first; NZL 2nd, ESP 3rd
Grand Prix
Aus v GBR v ESP
The event culminated in a thrilling face-off between Australia, Great Britain, and Spain. Australia emerged victorious, with Spain taking second and Great Britain finishing third.
As the SailGP Season 5 continues, the competition remains fierce, with teams jockeying for position and striving to secure their place in the league's future.
See the Official SailGP website for standings. https://sailgp.com