Emirates GBR Starts Season With Win As U.S. SailGP Team Finishes 5th
Brits continue winning form from 2025 Season as U.S. SailGP makes impressive start
Published 01/18/2026
Emirates GBR began the 2026 SailGP Season as the finished the last by winning the Oracle Perth Sail Grand Prix, presented by KPMG.
The Brits’ Super Sunday showing - picking up two wins - propelled them into the Final alongside DS Automobiles France and hosts the BONDS Flying Roos, where they built on last season’s Rolex SailGP Championship win to claim the first event of the season.
For the U.S. SailGP Team, a 9-8-9 showing on Day 2 contributed to an overall P5 for the event – building on the momentum from Abu Dhabi in November, while laying strong foundations for 2026.
Stronger winds than Saturday meant the teams stayed on the high-speed T-foils and smallest rudders. The 18m wings came in overnight, with the J1 jibs utilized once more. After Saturday’s crash, New Zealand Black Foils were out but, in better news, Sébastien Schneiter’s Switzerland returned.
Day 2 opened up with a high-speed start as ROCKWOOL Denmark’s decision to leave it laid paid off, steaming across the line as it turned white. The Danes led at Mark 1 but Red Bull Italy soon took over.Â
Phil Robertson’s crew looked to have the win sewn up as they built a 13-second advantage over Emirates GBR. But the 2025 Season Champions fought back to steal the win. A blanket finish at the line saw Italy hold onto 2nd, with the BONDS Flying Roos seeing off ROCKWOOL to take 3rd. For the U.S. SailGP Team, a P9 added two points to the tally.
Race 6 saw NorthStar Canada and DS France fly out the start box, joined by the BONDS Flying Roos, with all three exceeding 90km/hr at Mark 1. The hosts took pole before dropping back to 3rd.Â
The U.S. SailGP Team finishes 5th overall at the Oracle Perth Sail Grand Prix
Meanwhile, a fascinating battle was unfolding between Emirates GBR and France. The French looked to have the edge until the final mark rounding when they came down to earth with a bump, enabling the Brits to steal 1st at the last moment. The U.S. SailGP Team battled to work their way up the fleet, claiming three more points with a P8.
There was everything to play for going into Race 7 with nothing decided. For debutants Artemis, a bad start left them at the back of the pack, effectively ending their chances of reaching a Final at the first attempt.
Switzerland built on a good Race 6 by nailing the start but it was NorthStar Canada who led at M1, fending off all challengers. France and Australia continued their impressive weekends to make up a clear-cut top three – eventually finishing in that order.
In the Final, the BONDS Flying Roos were hit with a boundary penalty. Emirates GBR timed their start to perfection and crossed as the line turned white to lead at M1. The Brits were in control from that moment onward, building a solid lead. France and Australia traded places throughout but it was the hosts who nicked second at the final mark after the French lost speed making a second maneuver.
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