Spain has staged a stunning upset in Halifax overnight, ending the BONDS Flying Roos’ bid for a historic fourth consecutive event victory. The Aussies dominated the weekend’s qualifying races but were shut out in the first-ever four-boat final, finishing fourth while Spain claimed the title.
Despite this disappointing result, Tom Slingsby’s crew has extended their championship dominance with a lead of almost 20 points ahead of the second and third place teams, who sit tied on 44 points.
The BONDS Flying Roos arrived on Super Sunday poised to shatter SailGP records, needing a fourth-place finish or better to secure a spot in the final. They delivered a tactical masterclass, with Slingsby executing a perfect start and winning by a comfortable margin in the qualifying race.
However, after dominating the qualifying races with three first-place finishes and a third, the BONDS Flying Roos ultimately finished fourth in the final, watching as Los Gallos took the victory ahead of Artemis in second and the Explora Journeys Swiss SailGP Team in third.
The day’s racing unfolded before more than 12,000 spectators, with winds of 27 km/h creating close calls and intense competition on the Canadian racecourse. Drama unfolded even before racing commenced, as Emirates Great Britain was ruled out due to damage sustained during a warm-up incident, and Mubadala Brazil received a penalty after crashing into a gate mark.
Tom Slingsby expressed disappointment about the outcome, stating, “We don’t feel great. That’s the first-ever four-boat final and one boat has to miss out on the podium and that’s us. We saved our worst race for last.” He acknowledged that while they sailed exceptionally well throughout the weekend, their final performance was not up to par.
Despite missing out on the Halifax trophy, the BONDS Flying Roos maintain a commanding lead at the top of the 2026 leaderboard with 62 points, while Spain’s Los Gallos and Emirates GBR sit tied for second with 44 points. Slingsby commented, “If we knew we were going to have this kind of lead over second place halfway through the season, we would be taking it with both hands. It’s just the way I’m built – I’m upset with today and I want to do better. I know the season points are good, but I want to win every event.”
Looking ahead, the BONDS Flying Roos will aim to rebound at the Emirates Great Britain Sail Grand Prix in Portsmouth on 25-26 July 2026.
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