ROCKWOOL Denmark Dominates Day 1 In Cádiz
Nicolai Sehested’s crew take home two fleet victories to top the standings…
Published 10/4/2025
With one event to go before the Grand Final in Abu Dhabi next month, Day 1 of the DP World Spain Sail Grand Prix certainly shook things up.
Hosts Los Gallos needed a big weekend but instead struggled, going 12-3-9-4. The BONDS Flying ROOS also had more than their fair share of issues but recovered well. All of which meant it was advantage Emirates GBR and New Zealand. But ROCKWOOL Denmark were the real winners in light air conditions on Day 1, going 8-1-2-1 to end the day top of the standings.
In Race 1, it looked like Taylor Canfield had nailed the start with the Rolex Pole Predictor sitting firmly atop the U.S. SailGP Team wing. However, Erik Heil and Germany arrived late and timed it to perfection. Elsewhere, penalties were dished out to Mubadala Brazil and Denmark for being on-course side (OCS) before the line turned white.
It was the Swiss, though, who were the sprint leaders, trading blows at the head of the fleet with Emirates GBR. The Brits finally took control to cross the finish line in 1st place. The U.S. SailGP Team had the Germans in their sights, though, moving into third in the penultimate leg to claim a big eight points.
The U.S. SailGP Team went 3-12-12-6 on Day 1 of the DP World Spain Sail Grand Prix
At the back there was drama aplenty, with New Zealand BONDS Flying Roos getting too close for comfort, while France and hosts Los Gallos made up a surprising bottom four.
Like in Race 1, the Rolex Pole Predictor had been sat on the U.S. SailGP Team until Peter Burling and New Zealand saw a gap and came steaming through. However, it was Germany SailGP Team, presented by Deutsche Bank, who led at Mark 1.
ROCKWOOL Denmark immediately stole into 1st, and Nicolai Sehested never looked back, building an unassailable lead. New Zealand clinched second with hosts Los Gallos recovering from their disappointing opening race to clinch 3rd.
The U.S. SailGP Team was unable to build on that promising start, finishing in 12th, just behind BONDS Flying Roos whose own struggles continued.
Having collected just two points from the first two races, the BONDS Flying Roos came good in Race 3. In the pack with New Zealand and Germany Deutsche Bank at M1, Tom Slingsby and the Aussies benefited from two bits of fortune to move into the lead. First, a penalty awarded against Germany allowed them to advance to second, before New Zealand lost one of their boards in a technical failure.
The BONDS Flying Roos were not about to pass up that opportunity and took a much-needed win with ROCKWOOL Denmark and the Germany SailGP Team both continuing impressive showings on Day 1 to make up the top three. The U.S. SailGP Team crossed the line in 11th.
Race 4 started in chaotic fashion with the fleet six wide at Mark 1. It was ROCKWOOL Denmark who eventually took the lead as Germany and Switzerland had penalties given against them.
More penalties followed but ROCKWOOL Denmark and Sehested remained firmly in control, picking up their second fleet race victory of Day 1 to complete a superb Saturday. Emirates GBR built on a win in Race 1 with a second-place finish while New Zealand took 3rd.
Toward the back of the pack, the U.S. SailGP Team made solid progress up from 11th, boxing out NorthStar Canada at the final mark rounding before getting up and foiling to clinch 6th.
But Saturday belonged to ROCKWOOL Denmark who sit nine points clear of 4th-placed Germany Deutsche Bank and, whisper it quietly, with one foot in Super Sunday’s Final.
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