The Rolex SailGP Championship’s 2026 Season opener has caused considerable disruption across the fleet, notably with New Zealand sidelined for the weekend following a severe collision with Switzerland in the first race.
Artemis leads the event leaderboard after securing two race victories, highlighting their strong start to the 2026 season. The U.S. team is closely trailing, while DS Automobiles Team France is in contention for the podium in third. Impressively, all three teams are currently tied on points, each with 31, as they prepare for Championship Sunday.
The race weekend began tumultuously for New Zealand and Switzerland, who collided on the second leg of the opening fleet race. New Zealand suffered significant damage and was taking on water after being hit from behind by the Swiss. The incident resulted in a penalty for New Zealand’s helmsman, Peter Burling, who received an eight-point penalty for violating rule 14, which concerns avoiding contact.
Reflecting on the incident, Burling stated, “Yeah, super tough day for us – we did everything we could to keep clear and didn’t expect to be in this situation. Their [the Swiss] bow went through the back of our boat. Everyone is pretty shaken up and frustrated, but we’re interested in the outcome of the [penalty] hearing and understanding the way forward.”
Sébastien Schneiter, helmsman for Switzerland, expressed optimism, saying, “The focus is on tomorrow – we knew this season would be challenging and it’s not going to be the last time we will see those moments. For us, it’s about how we can bounce back from this. We are super motivated to get back out there tomorrow and grow as a team from this.” Repairs to the Swiss F50 are underway, and the team hopes to return for the next race.
The first race of the day was won by the Australian SailGP Team, with Tom Slingsby calling the victory “awesome.” He commented on the thrill of racing at home, appreciating the crowd’s support that intensified when they achieved a win. Slingsby is looking forward to another strong performance, hoping for quality racing with less chaos in the coming heats.
Race two saw DS Team France surge ahead from the start, effectively leading the fleet at the first mark. Under the guidance of helmsman Quentin Delappiere, the French maintained a steady lead, finishing first with Artemis following closely in second place.
In race three, Nathan Outteridge claimed his first win with Artemis, overtaking the French after they faltered during their last manoeuvre. Outteridge ultimately secured two back-to-back victories, clinching pole position going into day two. He described the day as unexpectedly chaotic, particularly after the challenges faced initially, but he was pleased with the turnaround in their racing.
The U.S. SailGP Team put up some outstanding performances, finishing with three podium placements and a fourth in race two. Team member Taylor Canfield remarked on their consistent performance throughout a hectic day, indicating satisfaction with the results despite the ups and downs.
Day one featured twelve national teams competing under challenging conditions, racing with high-speed rudders and foils while battling winds reaching 25 km/h. However, Spain’s participation had been halted due to significant damage sustained during practice, and with the Kiwis out, the competitor count has reduced to eleven for the remainder of the event.
The Oracle Perth Sail Grand Prix, presented by KPMG, will continue on Sunday, January 18, at 1pm local time. More information is available at SailGP.com/Watch.
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