Day one of the ROCKWOOL France Sail Grand Prix saw the Emirates Great Britain SailGP Team take the lead after an exhilarating series of races in challenging Mistral conditions. The event commenced with a sell-out crowd witnessing the world’s best teams compete in unpredictable winds, leading to dramatic outcomes in each of the four fleet races.
Emirates GBR’s Dylan Fletcher expressed surprise at their performance, stating, “It was very shifty – quite an interesting one to come out on top, as I’m not sure we had the best day out there. We had plenty of wild moments but when you’re powered up on those wings and it’s shifty in Saint-Tropez – it doesn’t get any better!”
Red Bull Italy celebrated their first victory in SailGP history after overcoming early challenges, with driver Ruggero Tita commenting, “We are super happy. The team did a great job – we can be proud of what we achieved in that race, even if we didn’t have an amazing day overall.”
However, consistency proved elusive for many teams. The BONDS Flying Roos, helmed by Tom Slingsby, secured a win in the first race but fell to 11th in the second. Similarly, NorthStar Canada led the second race before finishing 11th in race three.
The final race showcased intense competition, with Germany achieving speeds of 97 km/h and France’s Quentin Delapierre engaging in strategic maneuvers at the start line. Ultimately, Emirates GBR emerged victorious, demonstrating superior performance with 100% flight time.
Off the water, the event attracted notable guests, including Formula 1 driver Valtteri Bottas, who experienced the thrill of racing on the ROCKWOOL Racing’s F50 catamaran. Bottas remarked on the intensity of SailGP racing and the importance of team communication.
Three more fleet races are scheduled for Saturday, September 13, leading up to the winner-takes-all final. Racing begins at 12:30 pm CEST, live on Canal+ Sport. For more information, visit SailGP.com/Watch.
Interested in seeing more Racing News? Click here
Follow our coverage of what’s happening in the foiling World Click here
Follow all our SailGP coverage Click here
