Jean Hudson reports ‘Australia’s BONDS Flying Roos Still Lead SailGP’
Australia’s BONDS Flying Roos dominated the group stage at SailGP’s debut event in Valencia, Spain over the weekend just gone, but let victory slip away in a dramatic final, losing to the United States after leading for almost the entire race. Tom Slingsby’s crew arrived at the Spain Sail Grand Prix as championship leaders on 76 points, 14 clear of home team Los Gallos, fresh off their fifth event win of the season in Sassnitz, Germany.
The weekend carried a distinct Hollywood flavour before racing even began. Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds, the actors who co-own the BONDS Flying Roos, brought their Wolverine and Deadpool on-screen rivalry to the water in a Friday practice race, each riding as a sixth sailor in custom Wolverine and Deadpool helmets — Jackman aboard the Australian F50 alongside Slingsby, Reynolds aboard NorthStar Canada’s boat. Reynolds edged the win after a late penalty against the Australian boat, joking that “humiliating Hugh Jackman” is a national pastime in Canada. The stunt drew large crowds to Marina Port Valencia and is expected to feature in an upcoming Disney+ documentary following the team.
Once real racing started, Australia topped Group A on day one with a 2-1-4 scorecard, edging Red Bull Italy by a single point in light, fading conditions that dropped to around 13 km/h by the end of racing. After Red Bull Italy took Race A1 with a blistering start, Slingsby responded in Race A2 by winning on his 42nd birthday, which fell on the opening day of racing, 5 September. He credited another well-timed start, noting that in the light conditions a good start meant clean air for the rest of the race. Red Bull Italy had the last word on day one, storming to victory in Race A3 to sit just one point behind Australia heading into Sunday.
The final started in just 7.5 knots of breeze. Slingsby took an early lead foiling at 50 km/h, built a 90-metre advantage at the second gate, and looked set for a record sixth event win of the season, which would have broken the single-season wins record. But Taylor Canfield’s US crew refused to fold.
After briefly passing the Australians, the Roos hit back to retake the lead at the top mark, appearing to have the race in hand with one manoeuvre left. Canfield then launched a final attack, snuck ahead at the last mark, foil-tacked close in, and shut the door on Slingsby, crossing the finish nearly 11 seconds clear for the win. Red Bull Italy took a historic first podium in third, with ROCKWOOL fourth.
The result denied Australia what would have been a season-best sixth win and a new SailGP record, but they still leave Valencia with a commanding overall lead — now 85 points to Los Gallos’ 68, a 17-point cushion with three events remaining before the $2 million Abu Dhabi Grand Final. Further back, the US’s win vaults them to third overall on 56 points, tightening what is now a five-point scrap with Artemis and Emirates GBR for the third and final Grand Final berth.
Looking ahead, the fleet moves next to the Rolex Switzerland Sail Grand Prix in Geneva on 19-20 September, followed by the Emirates Dubai Sail Grand Prix on 21-22November, before the season closes with the winner-takes-all Mubadala Abu Dhabi Sail Grand Prix Grand Final on November 28–29.
So, lots of excitement ahead!
*Story by Jean Hudson, images courtesy SailGP. Jean 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.
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