5 Things You Missed At The Auckland Sail Grand Prix
The ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix had it all – here’s everything you might have missed
Published 02/18/2026
The second edition of the ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix in Auckland will live long in the memory for a variety of reasons.
Saturday’s dramatic collision between the hometown team and DS Automobiles France hospitalized two athletes, while both F50s sustained serious damage. Thankfully, both Louis Sinclair (NZ) and Manon Audinet (France) are stable.
But Sunday’s racing brought a first for SailGP and another win on Kiwi waters for the BONDS Flying Roos. Here’s everything you might have missed…
1. SailGP history made with new format
The announcement of Sunday’s fleet race split meant a SailGP first. With New Zealand and France ruled out of action, the 11 remaining teams were divided into two groups to mitigate further risk in windy conditions.
While this is something SailGP has long thought about doing, it was the first time the format has been changed in this way. Official Practice Racing - which was cancelled on Friday due to the conditions - does, however, mimic this format successfully.
For the U.S. SailGP Team, Sunday brought two strong showings in Group B, finishing P3 and P1 to build further momentum ahead of the KPMG Sydney Sail Grand Prix at the end of this month.
2. Three teams go triple digits on Super Sunday!
Strong winds on Day 2 meant racing was brought forward by more than four hours. But the conditions were still conducive to high-speed foiling action.
NorthStar Canada (102 km/hr), the BONDS Flying Roos (101.7 km/hr), and Emirates GBR (101.6 km/hr) all exceeded 100 km/hr – but no one could top ROCKWOOL Denmark’s 103.93 km/hr SailGP record set in Sassnitz last year.
It only feels like a matter of time until someone does, though!
3. Super-sub steps up again!
Glenn Ashby of the BONDS Flying Roos is named as one of the Rolex Precision Athletes of the Day
At this rate, new Roos wing trimmer Iain Jensen will be wondering if he’s going to get his place on the team back!
Having traded Emirates GBR for Australia during the off-season, Jensen was injured during practice ahead of the season opener in Perth. In came 48-year-old former Olympian Glenn Ashby to steal the show.
Included as a reserve athlete again in Auckland, the Olympic silver medalist stepped onto the F50 once more to deliver performances on both days that saw him named as one of SailGP’s Precision Athletes of the Day twice.
4. Australia enjoys happy hunting ground in Auckland
The BONDS Flying Roos win the ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix Final
Four-time SailGP Champions, the BONDS Flying Roos hadn’t won an event for more than a year before Sunday – but the wait is now over.
Tom Slingsby’s crew last tasted victory champagne in Auckland on January 19, 2025. Fast-forward just over a year and the Roos repeated the trick on the turf of their great sporting rivals.
“It’s huge - it’s been amazing for us to come and win here,” Slingsby said. “We always want to compete against the best, and the Kiwis are the best,” Slingsby continued. “Not having them out there today does feel a little hollow.”
5. Good things come to those who wait
The U.S. SailGP Teams win the final fleet race of the ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix in Auckland
The wait has been every bit as long for the U.S. SailGP Team, who collected its first fleet race victory since the opening race of the 2025 Season – all the way back in November 2024.
Up against a tough fleet that included the last two SailGP Champions in Emirates GBR and Los Gallos, Taylor Canfield and co. nailed the start in Race 6, led at Mark 1 and never looked back.
That put five further points on the board for the crew on Sunday. If the usual point-scoring system had applied, the U.S. SailGP Team would have added 18 points on Day 2 from just two races.
Sat fifth after two events, all eyes turn to Sydney in a fortnight’s time.
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