Data Dive: How the U.S. SailGP Team won the Spain Sail Grand Prix

Get closer to the story with the Data Dive - looking at the numbers behind the Spain Sail Grand Prix

Published 09/9/2026

Unexpectedly light-air conditions in Valencia made for a tricky weekend at the Spain Sail Grand Prix with the U.S. SailGP Team triumphing for the second time this season.

So light was the wind on Super Sunday that fleet racing was reduced from two races to one – and the U.S. SailGP Team took full advantage to add to their memorable win in Sydney in March.

We’ve analyzed the data to find three big takeaways from the inaugural SailGP event in Valencia…

1. Maneuver masterclass powers the U.S. SailGP Team to victory

The U.S. SailGP Team produced a massive result for their season, winning the weekend's four-boat Final race over the BONDS Flying Roos, Red Bull Italy, and ROCKWOOL Racing.

Their secret weapon in Valencia? Flawless boat handling in the corners. Through tacks and gybes, the Crew lost an average of just 32.4 meters compared to their target Velocity Made Good (VMG).

This was a staggering display of efficiency compared to the rest of the fleet – the next closest team was Australia, who lost 43.0 meters per maneuver. By maintaining rapid speeds at the apex of their turns (averaging 14.7mph at their slowest point), the U.S. SailGP Team carried crucial momentum out of every maneuver.

This cornering prowess translated directly into overall pace, helping Taylor Canfield and co. record the event’s highest average boat speed at 21.7 mph despite the light-air conditions.

2. Australia’s relentless "Flight" trend continues

Continuing a dominant seasonal trend, the BONDS Flying Roos proved once again why they are the benchmark for platform stability.

The key to the Flying Roos’ consistent performance is their ability to stay airborne in all conditions. In Spain, the Australians spent an incredible 83.4% of their race time fully foiling – the highest flight-time percentage in the fleet and comfortably ahead of the U.S. SailGP Team in second at 79.5%.

This unparalleled ride height stability allowed Australia to convert wind power into sheer pace, clocking a blistering fleet-best straight-line Speed Over Ground (SOG) of 22.6 mph.

3. Italy’s straight-line dominance secures a podium finish

Phil Robertson and Red Bull Italy punched their ticket to the Final and secured a strong third-place overall result through sheer straight-line efficiency. While the Americans dominated in the corners, the Italians were a rocket in a straight line.

Analysis of their leg-by-leg telemetry reveals Italy recorded a fleet-best straight-line Velocity Made Good (VMG) of 10.7 mph. They paired this optimal course efficiency with a blistering straight-line Speed Over Ground (SOG) of 21.9 mph.

By maximizing their speed directly toward the next gate rather than sailing extra distance, they consistently stayed at the front of the pack.

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