REPORT: All To Play For Ahead Of Grand Final
Denmark and Switzerland impress as big hitters battle at the back…
Published 11/29/2025
It’s all to play for on Day 2 of the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Sail Grand Prix Grand Final with Switzerland ROCKWOOL Denmark the big winners on Saturday.
Defending Champions Los Gallos went into the final event of the 2025 SailGP Season knowing they had to finish ahead of the BONDS Flying Roos in the event standings to leapfrog Tom Slingsby’s crew and qualify for the final. For much of Saturday, Diego Botín’s team found themselves at the wrong end of the pack, though.
So often labeled light-air specialists, Taylor Canfield and the U.S. SailGP Team lived up to their billing, going 6-3-4-12 to end Day 1 in 5th place with 20 points on the board.
As predicted, a lack of wind in the United Arab Emirates meant teams went three up with the U.S. SailGP Team going without a grinder. Wing trimmer Michael Menninger and flight controller Hans Henken joined Canfield on the F50 while the new 27.5m wing was deployed for the first time across the fleet.
Race 1 underlined the challenge facing the entire fleet, with all 12 teams bunched up in a smaller-than-usual start box, trying to avoid drifting over the line early. Switzerland made the best of it, though, and led at Mark 1 with Mubadala Brazil and Germany SailGP Team presented by Deutsche Bank in close quarters.
And it was Germans who, under Eik Heil have enjoyed a fine second half of the season, who eventually wrestled control from the Danes to take the win. It was a P6 for the U.S. SailGP Team who moved up the fleet impressively in Leg 3.
The SailGP fleet during Day 1 of the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Sail Grand Prix
The Danes, under Nicolai Sehested, built on that P3 in Race 2 by clinching the first of back-to-back victories. On-course side (OCS) penalties against the BONDS Flying Roos and Los Gallos had them both at the back of the pack.
Canfield and the U.S. SailGP Team progressed nicely through the fleet after a decent start, eventually overtaking Red Bull Italy to clinch a P3. At the back of the fleet, Spain, Australia and Emirates GBR went toe-to-toe in a tactical battle.
More OCS penalties - this time against the U.S. SailGP Team and Australia served as a reminder of tough conditions that saw Germany clock the day’s highest speed at just over 31 km/hr.
The Danes repeated the trick of Race 2, eventually finishing ahead of Switzerland (2nd) and Red Bull Italy (3rd). Los Gallos had been in the lead at one point before tumbling while Australia could only take P11. For the U.S. SailGP Team, it was another strong showing in 4th.
U.S. SailGP Team flight controller Hans Henken on the handles of the F50
Having spent much of Day 1 trying to limit Los Gallos, the BONDS Flying Roos made a flying start to the final race of the day while Botín’s crew joined France and NorthStar Canada in being hit with OCS penalties.
Switzerland Denmark again comprised two-thirds of the top three with Seb Schneiter’s team taking home the win. Denmark completed their day without dropping out the top three, while Martine Grael and Brazil came home in 3rd.
With three fleet races left on Sunday, nothing is decided. Emirates GBR, New Zealand, the BONDS Flying Roos and Los Gallos can all still make the Grand Final – it promises to be a Special Sunday.
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