Day 1 Rolex SailGP Freo

Well, we are here to tell you, SailGP is non-stop, high adrenaline fun! Here’s our Day 1 report.

Watching the crowds arrive at Bathers Beach first thing Saturday morning and file into the grandstands was something to behold.

As the general vicinity was fenced off, there were precious few places where folks could just wander down to near the race area and see the racing. But some folk, near Fishing Boat Harbour, plainly had thought it all through!

The main viewing area, however, was from the South Mole grandstand, accomodating some 7,000 spectators.

There was also another grandstand near Challenger Harbour, and a cordoned off VIP Bathers Beach area near Kidogo Arthouse, as well as the area adjacent to Bathers Beachhouse.

Lucky Media folk were able to report from atop Bathers Beachhouse!

Before the racing started at 1 pm, the crowd was entertained royally by low flying helicopters sort of swooping between the practicing boats and seemingly dipping their toes in the water, and then by a dare devil stunt plane pilot executing the most amazing manoeuvres, flying vertically up and then vertically down. And leaving trails of vapour everwhere. Breathtaking stuff!

And then the racing started. The Aussies in BONDS Flying Roos raced away in Race 1, but came back to the fleet in Races 2 and 3, before recovering to finish second in Race 4. They are hanging in there in equal fourth place for the all important second day. They’ll be wanting to finish in the top 3 after the next four races tomorrow, Sunday, to be where they want to be.

The standout consistent performers today though, were Sweden, the USA and France. And they’ll be real dangers tomorrow.

Should be said, though, there are a few Aussie connections in the Artemis Sweden boat!

Here are the standings after day 1.

We should note that in Race 1 the NZ Black Foils and Switzerland had a contretemps, didn’t complete the race and then missed the following three races. Hopefully they’ll be back Sunday.

Here’s a gallery of some of the day 1 action in Bathers Bay.

We should also note that, for a wee while there, we thought this big MSC container ship was going to join in the racing, but in the end she moved quietly and uneventfully into Port. We feel sure SailGP, MSC and Fremantle Ports had a special arrangement! Would have looked great in the live TV streaming to a reputed 20 million people around the world!

So Day 1 of the Rolex SailGP racing is over. BUT we are also here to tell you that Day 1 itself is far from over. Tonight, the brilliant Nick Cave is playing Freo. Freo is going to be frenetic. It wouldn’t surprise us if, in honour of all this Freo sailing and marine stuff, Nick sang The Ship Song! Beautiful song.

Until Day 2, we are your humble FSN reporters,

Michael Barker and Jean Hudson @jeansodyssey

Jean Hudson is our Shipping and Sailing Correspondent and also a regular feature writer, reviewer and photographer here on the Shipping News. You may also like to follow up her informative Places I Love stories, as well as other feature stories and Freo Today photographs, right here.

Michael Barker is the Editor, Fremantle Shipping News

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