Tyler Letren; Founder, CEO, and Editor-in-Chief

The Abu Dhabi course appeared small at the beginning of each race, with a tight corner to mark one from the starting gate. The first day of racing began with little to no winds in the first race, although not as bad as the Chicago race which saw the leads diminish the number of races to the final gate and a slower-than-normal championship race.

Day 1.

Race1:

Kiwis and Den made it through the F50s smoothly.

The course was a little different today. The wind was terrible, and the fleet was forced to push through low winds milage on the water.

New Zealand led the pack around the shortened course, and the average wind speed was 13 KM/H, while many of the boats managed to find grasp speeds of up to 18-23KM/H. Some of the Teams still managed to find enough wind to get up on their foils. Canada and Aus, faced a close encounter near the end, though not enough to cause a collision. On the Canadian F50,vPhil took to comms with the team captain. The Canadian team avoided colliding with the Australians but got a penalty for not allowing the Australian team enough room to turn at the mark.

Due to the earlier penalty, Australia took second place and Canada third.

Race 2:

The winners of Race One came in dead last, while those who were dead last in Race One found their way to the front of the pack. The first mark saw Team USA DEN and ESP open the course to the race. Race two, saw team USA lead the dominate the legs and capture marks, while Spain held onto second place and Denmark fell behind to third.

The USA and Denmark made their way around the second mark, with Spain and Germany on their tail. France managed to slip between Germany and the mark on the inside to round the buoy.

Through light winds of 10.6 KM/H around the final leg, Spain managed to get across the USA and secure the first place, place while the USA pulled into the second placing with France in tow for third

Race 3:

The start of the race saw the F50s cluster around upon making their way around the first mark to the tightest corner, likely in Sail GP history, into the second mark. Spanish managed to collect the first place position around the second mark. Race three averaging 10.5 KM/H wind speeds. New Zealand fished their way to the top of the leader board tugging behind the Spanish ship while the USA hung out in third place. The boats managed to secure upward of 23 KM/H coming around the buoys.

Day 2.

Race 4:

Race won began with every fleet except Spain being given a penalty. Still, the Australians managed to find a clear way to the front past mark one to gate two. Every team was sent back behind the Spanish team, and French. Leg four towards the mark, the Canadian team made contact with one of the mid-course buoys, prompting, Phil to use a few choice words, quieted by the guys back on land. Turns out the buoys were being moved closer to shorten the course finish. Nonetheless, Australia took first with France in second and the USA in third

Race 5:

The race started with the Australian catching a penalty upon early start and dropping to the back allowing the Germans and Spain around the first mark. Race five saw an average wind speed of 9.7 KM/H, though the fleets saw ample precision sailing through the course mark to mark. Many, like the Emirates Great Britain, saw a way up on foils despite, the wind speed. Germans saw their way into the top three places for the time this weekend. Spain crossed the finish line securing the first place position, Germany swept in behind them with the USA cruising home slowly but surely for the third place, placing.

For the first time this season, this weekend saw the Australians not qualify for the championship race. Surely we’ll see the Aussies back in the final race next race.

Championship Race

Kiwis fast across the starting line first just as USA trickled into the course. Around the first mark, the Kiwis hung left, and the USA pinched in. The Spanish and Kiwis took control of the race, leading neck and neck while the USA seemed to split away.

NZL and Spain stayed to one side while they used to the other but upon entry into the leg, all three boats fought their way around the mark, NZL leading, and USA slipping into the second place with Spain in tow. Wind speed for the race average is 12 KM/H but the talent on board pulled those boasts to speeds near 20 KM/H.

Up on the foils crossing the finish line, NZL. The Spanish trailed behind and the USA came around third.

Congratulations to New Zealand. Real proud of the KIWIs.