The 2026 SailGP Season so far: Key moments, crashes and storylines
With seven events down and six to go, it’s time to recap the first half of the 2026 SailGP Season
Published 07/13/2026
The 2026 Rolex SailGP Championship has reached halfway ahead of the eighth event of the campaign: the Emirates Great Britain Sail Grand Prix.
With seven events down, the Championship is shaping up nicely with the fleet as competitive as ever. So whether you’re just joining us at this stage, or you need a refresher of what’s gone before, we’ve got you covered…
Oracle Perth Sail Grand Prix
1. Emirates Great Britain
2. BONDS Flying Roos
3. DS Automobiles Team France
After a short winter break, the SailGP fleet returned to action in the southern hemisphere having grown in number with Artemis SailGP Team - representing Sweden - becoming lucky team No.13.Â
There was drama from the off in windy conditions with the Freo Doctor paying a visit on SailGP’s first stop in Perth. Day 1 began with the Black Foils and Switzerland colliding in Race 1 – an incident that cost the Kiwis an eight-point penalty while prematurely ending both teams’ weekends.
In the Final, 2025 Season Champions Emirates GBR showed they would be the team to beat once more, seeing off stiff competition from Australia and France to take the win and start the season with 10 points. The U.S. SailGP Team went 3-4-3-3-9-8-9 to begin the new season with an encouraging P5.Â
ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix | Auckland
1. BONDS Flying Roos
2. Emirates Great Britain
3. Los Gallos
After a dramatic season opener in Perth, Auckland presented an even greater challenge for the fleet.
In Race 3, hosts the Black Foils took a dramatic nosedive on the reach to Mark 1 and DS Team France collided with the Kiwis’ grounded F50. New Zealand grinder Louis Sinclair required surgery, while French strategist Manon Audinet was also hospitalized.
Weekend over for both boats, the Race Committee took the decision to split the fleet for Day 2 for the first time ever, with further top-end wind conditions forecast.Â
Winners in Auckland a year prior, the BONDS Flying Roos enjoyed another victory at the home of their great sporting rivals. The last three SailGP Champions contested a classic Final with the Aussies edging out Emirates GBR and Los Gallos.Â
The U.S. SailGP Team clinched a nice race win on Day 2 to finish P7 overall and add four points to its Championship tally.
KPMG Sydney Sail Grand Prix
1. U.S. SailGP Team
2. Emirates Great Britain
3. Los Gallos
The fleet was reduced to 11 for the trip to Australia’s East Coast, with New Zealand’s F50 being totally rebuilt. The French team was also unable to compete and received compensatory points.
A solid but unspectacular day saw Taylor Canfield and the Crew go 6-3-10-3. But it was Los Gallos who looked most threatening with finishes of 5–1-1-5. The ever-reliable Aussies also snared a pair of fleet race wins.Â
Day 2 shook things up completely, though. The U.S. SailGP Team went 3-1-6 to secure its first event Final since Dubai at the start of the 2025 Season. In light-air conditions, the Crew nailed the start to get up and foiling at Mark 1 at the same time as Great Britain.
From there, the U.S. SailGP Team was up and away, shutting the door in its rivals' faces to claim a magnificent win and move into the top three on the season.
Enel Rio Sail Grand Prix
1. BONDS Flying Roos 2. Artemis SailGP Team
3. Los Gallos
For the first time ever, SailGP arrived in South America with Brazil hosting in the spectacular surroundings of Guanabara Bay, underneath the gaze of Christ the Redeemer.Â
There was a welcome return to action from Quentin Delapierre and DS Team France, back on the start line thanks to the Corinthian spirit of the fleet, taking Liv Mackey and Glenn Ashby on loan to fill out its roster.
The U.S. SailGP Team put together another solid weekend, going 3-4-8-6-4-2 to agonizingly miss out on a second successive Final. It was Los Gallos who snuck in by seven points, joining the Flying Roos and first-time Finalists Artemis.
Tom Slingsby’s crew had won all three fleet races on Super Sunday and showed no sign of abating in the Final to take maximum points and complete a perfect day’s racing in Rio.
Apex Group Bermuda Sail Grand Prix
1. BONDS Flying Roos
2. Los Gallos
3. Germany SailGP Team, presented by Deutsche Bank
For event No.5, SailGP returned to Bermuda for the first time since 2024.Â
The U.S. SailGP Team shot out the gate, winning Race 1 to sit P3 at halfway. However, once more, it was the BONDS Flying Roos (9-1-2-1) who dominated proceedings.
Day 2 followed a similar pattern with Slingsby and co. going 2-1-3 to punch their Final ticket in style. The day was marred by injury to French trimmer Ashby - on loan from the Roos - who broke his ankle crossing during a maneuver.
In the Final, Australia made it two in a row beating out Los Gallos after Diego Botin gambled and went left at Gate 3 - a decision which did not pay off. The U.S. SailGP Team, meanwhile, finished P7 after a tough Day 2.
Mubadala New York Sail Grand Prix
1. BONDS Flying Roos
2. Emirates Great Britain
3. NorthStar
The U.S. SailGP Team returned to action in New York City looking to put on a show for their home supporters.Â
Heavy wind in New York City proved problematic as SailGP’s Tech Team could not safely oversee the crane-in for all 12 boats. Instead, Day 1 proved to be exhibition racing only with Australia, Spain, Great Britain and the U.S. SailGP Team hitting the water, based on Championship order.Â
On home waters between Governors Island with Lady Liberty watching on, the U.S. SailGP Team was on fire on Day 2, leading the event with a 2-1 start before a three-boat collision involving Red Bull Italy and Mubadala Brazil.
The BONDS Flying Roos were the big beneficiaries, completing a hat-trick of consecutive event wins by beating Emirates GBR and first-time finalists on the season, NorthStar.
Canada Sail Grand Prix
1. Los Gallos
2. Artemis SailGP Team
3. Explora Journeys Swiss
4. BONDS Flying Roos
Racing returned to Halifax after a year off and another welcome return came in the form of the Black Foils – back on the start line after their F50 was rebuilt.
History was made at the Canada Sail Grand Prix as the decision was taken to go with a split-fleet format - the first time that decision had been made ahead of time.Â
Changeable conditions made for tough racing with the wind rising and dropping unexpectedly between races. Race 1 timed out after 16 minutes but the Australians won the next two shortened races to dominate Day 1.
On Day 2, Emirates GBR nosedived in the warm-up, bringing a premature end to their day. Meanwhile, the U.S. SailGP Team went P1 and P2 but could not quite squeeze into the Final, finishing P6.
A first-ever four boat Final delivered on drama but it was 2024 Champions Los Gallos clinched their first event win of the campaign, beating Artemis, Explora Swiss and the BONDS Flying Roos.
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