Brutal Sunday setback fuels Aussies as Grand Final race tightens

It was a frustrating day for the Aussies on Super Sunday in Spain as Tom Slingsby and his BONDS Flying Roos faced a tough challenge in their quest for the 2025 Season Grand Final next month.

Great Britain claimed victory in the Cadiz Podium Final, finishing ahead of New Zealand and Germany.

The BONDS Flying Roos now turn their attention to the title-deciding showdown in Abu Dhabi, aiming to reclaim the Championship Trophy on 28-29 November.

Pressure is mounting on Slingsby and his crew after a hard-fought campaign in Cadiz, which tightened the race for a place in the US$2M winner-takes-all Grand Final.

Super Sunday at the DP World Spain Sail Grand Prix brought mixed fortunes for the BONDS Flying Roos, causing them to slip from first to third in the 2025 Season standings. The three-time champions encountered costly setbacks, facing fierce competition from home-team rivals Los Gallos as they head into the season’s final event.

The Australians started strong in Race Five, leading the fleet before finishing third. However, they struggled throughout the day, facing penalties and setbacks that hindered their performance.

Race Six was particularly challenging, with the team starting at the back of the pack and finishing eighth after dropping positions in the closing stages. Race Seven saw further difficulties, with a boundary infringement leading to penalties and forcing Slingsby’s crew to scramble to recover.

Emirates Great Britain emerged victorious in the Podium Final, followed by New Zealand and Germany.

Reflecting on the performance, Slingsby expressed confidence, stating, “We’re still in the hunt for the Grand Final. It was a tough event today, really bumpy and tricky, and we just didn’t sail at our best. It’s unfortunate and I’ll dwell on it for a while but I’ve got six weeks to learn from this.” He acknowledged the difficulty of transitioning from strong practice results to battling for lower positions but remained focused on the upcoming challenges.

Slingsby remarked, “We’ll do whatever we have to do to make that Grand Final. If it means going after Spain, we’ll go after them. If it means just monitoring from afar and focusing on our own results, we’ll do that.” Currently, his crew sits third in the overall season standings with 80 points, trailing behind the Black Foils and Great Britain.

With crucial points banked in Cadiz, the BONDS Flying Roos are determined to secure their place in the Abu Dhabi Grand Final and reclaim the Championship Trophy.

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