The BONDS Flying Roos SailGP team closed the opening day of its inaugural event in Rio de Janeiro at the top of the leaderboard, setting the stage for a strong performance heading into the finals. The results from four fleet races displayed the team’s resilience, with finishes of 2nd, 8th, 3rd, and 3rd, earning them 28 points, just ahead of the USA with 27 points and Artemis with 26 points.
Driver and CEO Tom Slingsby expressed contentment with the day’s racing, highlighting the challenging conditions typical of the area, saying, “It was really tough and patchy, like a game of snakes and ladders, but we managed to work our way through the fleet and came away with some decent results.”
Flight Controller Jason Waterhouse echoed that sentiment, noting the difficulties posed by Rio’s environment, specifically under the Sugarloaf Mountain. He remarked on the competitive nature of their performance, despite a late-race penalty that affected their position in the final race.
This event is particularly significant for the BONDS Flying Roos, as it represents a return to the waters where team members Waterhouse and Iain Jensen secured Olympic silver medals in 2016. Their prior success adds extra motivation as they aim to turn their promising start into a podium finish.
In a light-hearted promotional effort, the team collaborated with co-owners Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds in a video featuring humorous takes on sailing traditions and the pressures of competition. All eyes are now on the final day of racing, where competitors will continue to face light and tactical conditions. Slingsby remains hopeful for improved wind, stating, “We’re hoping for a bit more breeze tomorrow based on the current forecast. It’s going to be another challenging day, but we’re right where we want to be.”
The finals are set to take place from 4:00 AM to 5:30 AM AEST on Monday, 13 April 2026, local time in Brazil, scheduled from 3:00 PM to 4:30 PM on Sunday, 12 April.
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