Emirates Great Britain sent a clear message to the fleet with a commanding title defence at the Oracle Perth Sail Grand Prix, presented by KPMG, claiming victory in the season opener. The Brits displayed dominance on day two, decisively defeating the Bonds Flying Roos, who finished second, and DS Team France, in third. The Fremantle Doctor provided challenging conditions with steep waves and gusts reaching 45 km/h.
Driver Dylan Fletcher expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “This is why we came to Perth, for the Doctor.” Emirates GBR executed their plan flawlessly in the Final, taking control early and maintaining their lead amidst fierce competition, particularly from the French team, who were hindered by a pre-start penalty. Fletcher’s calm sailing allowed them to secure a comfortable first-place finish.
The French team faced difficulties when their driver, Quentin Delapierre, made a risky decision to separate from the pack, resulting in a loss to the Bonds Flying Roos in their charge for the finish.
Fletcher, fresh off his Grand Final win from the previous season, expressed joy over his team’s performance, saying, “We came out firing today, and I’m stoked with the result.” Strategist Hannah Mills emphasised the team’s adaptability and performance, crediting a new wing trimmer for the dynamic shift in their racing strategy.
Despite the disappointing home race outcome, driver Tom Slingsby of the Bonds Flying Roos stated the day was “amazing” and suggested Fremantle should host the final, indicating the chaotic and exciting nature of the venue.
A late crew change saw veteran Glenn Ashby step in for injured Iain ‘Goobs’ Jensen, a transition Slingsby noted was challenging yet impressively handled by Ashby.
Emirates GBR’s wins in fleet races demonstrated their ability to navigate even the most difficult sailing conditions, while the Northstar SailGP Team finished the day strong with a win in the final qualifying fleet race. Meanwhile, newcomers Artemis missed out on the final despite impressive racing, finishing fourth overall in their debut event of the season.
The U.S. SailGP Team struggled on Championship Sunday with poor race execution, yet remained fifth overall in the season rankings. Driver Canfield acknowledged the progress made despite the day not going as intended.
Sir Russell Coutts, SailGP CEO, reflected on Perth’s successful debut, praising the local support and exceptional racing, and hinted at future events planned in the next seasons. The next stop on the SailGP circuit is Auckland, New Zealand, scheduled for February 14-15.
For further information, the final results for the Oracle Perth Sail Grand Prix can be found at SailGP.com/results.
Hashtags: #SailGP #Sailing #Perth2026 #FremantleDoctor #EmiratesGBR#bondsflyingroos
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