France Break Duck As Emirates GBR Battle Into Final
Super Sunday belonged to the teams plagued by misfortune as France won out in Sassnitz…
Published 08/17/2025
It was third time lucky for France who claimed their first event win of Season 5 in Sassnitz – seeing off plucky Emirates Great Britain to break their duck.
French participation had looked in doubt during Friday’s practice racing when their starboard rudder broke off during a windward mark bear away. But Quentine Delapierre and co. made the start line and took full advantage to claim their maiden win of the season.
Overnight, it became clear the U.S. SailGP Team would be unable to make the start line following Saturday’s collision with Emirates Great Britain. Our shore team worked overnight alongside the British team to ensure a piece of our hull could be installed to enable them to race.
Sunday started with a feel-good story for Emirates GBR and Dylan Fletcher, who took the win in Fleet Race 5. It was France and NorthStar Canada in pole out the start box, but both came off the foils at Gate One and paid the price. A drag race to the finish resulted in Great Britain crossing the line first, followed by ROCKWOOL Denmark and BONDS Flying Roos.
That was a sign of things to come for Emirates GBR. Fletcher and his crew nailed the start in Fleet Race 6, leading the sprint to Mark One with BONDS Flying Roos hot on their heels once more.
That set the tone for the rest of the race with GBR pulling off a sharp tack approaching the final mark to beat the Aussies to the line. Second was, however, enough for Slingsby and co. to secure their Final place. Germany Deutsche Bank completed the top three, in doing so strengthening their chances of a Final berth.
Emirates GBR’s personal Super Sunday continued in the weekend’s final fleet race. For a long time, it looked as though the British crew would make it a hat-trick of wins as they held off Switzerland. However, Sébastien Schneiter got control and never looked back, crossing the line without anyone in sight.
Britain clinched second and BONDS Flying Roos completed an impressive weekend with a third-place finish. France took fourth while Germany Deutsche Bank were back in seventh, meaning it was Delapierre and co. who joined Great Britain and Australia in the Final.
Having just secured their place in the day’s final fleet race, the French SailGP Team were determined to put two previous Final losses to bed. Although it was Emirates GBR who made another perfect start, they came off the foils and Delapierre took charge.
With two maneuvers including a right-hand turn through the final gate to go, the French cruised home to end their seasonal drought in style. BONDS Flying Roos took second to regain control of the Championship over New Zealand, while Emirates GBR finished third – a remarkable feat given their overnight position.
A packed European leg of the SailGP calendar continues in Saint-Tropez on September 12-13 with the ROCKWOOL France Sail Grand Prix.
Competition closes September 4 – don't miss out!
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