Hometown Favourites Emirates Great Britain Dominate On Day One
The Emirates Great Britain SailGP Team dominated on Day One of the Emirates Great Britain Sail Grand Prix
Published 07/19/2025
Day One of the Emirates Great Britain Sail Grand Prix in Portsmouth belonged to the hometown favourites, Emirates Great Britain.
Dylan Fletcher and co. were never out of the podium positions, going 1-2-3-2 to top the leaderboard on Saturday evening in front of a packed-out Race Stadium. The U.S. SailGP Team showed promise in moments, finishing 9-7-10-8.
There was drama before the off as the France SailGP Team were regrettably forced to withdraw after their wing suffered damage in the warm-up. Thankfully all aboard the F50 were swiftly confirmed to be safe and unharmed. But it meant the fleet was down to 11 boats from the outset.
30,000 fans packed into the Race Stadium in Portsmouth
With winds of around 16mph gusting 20mph, the fleet utilized the 24m wing - the middle of the three available options - and went five up, meaning tough decisions about crew configuration.
The U.S. SailGP Team started well but it was clear from early on Fleet Race One belonged to the hosts. Cheered on by a partisan crowd on the banks of the Solent, Fletcher and Emirates Great Britain were in control from mark one and never looked back. New Zealand finished 2nd with ROCKWOOL Denmark in 3rd.
For the U.S., a 9th-place finish was secured with Taylor Canfield blasting past Mubadala Brazil in the final meters to collect two points.
Race 2 began with a penalty as Germany Deutsche Bank were penalised for an early start. Red Bull Italy nailed the start, however, and led at Mark 1 followed by the Swiss and Bonds Flying Roos. And it was the Swiss who profited thereafter, escaping a collision with the hosts to win Fleet Race Two.
Penalties again marred the start of Fleet Race Three; the U.S. SailGP Team and Mubadala Brazil the offenders on this occasion. Peter Burling and New Zealand had no such problems and, having snared the inside line, controlled proceedings to take a much-needed win, eventually crossing the line with a 300m lead.
The U.S. SailGP Team could only manage a 10th-place finish but did pip neigbors NorthStar Canada in doing so.
Taylor Canfield and the U.S. SailGP Team edges out Mubadala Brazil at the line
Having struggled to build any momentum until this point, Tom Slingsby and the BONDS Flying Roos were not to be denied and saved their best to last. Their perfect start in Fleet Race Four proved the foundations for a win that shook up the leaderboard. They saw off the home favourites GBR with Red Bull Italy in third.
That meant four different winners across four fleet races - Emirates Great Britain, Switzerland, New Zealand and BONDS Flying Roos - to set up a Super Sunday on the South Coast.
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