Recap an incredible weekend in Valencia for the U.S. SailGP Team with everything you missed
Published 09/8/2026
The 2026 Spain Sail Grand Prix in Valencia will live long in the memory for fans of the U.S. SailGP Team after the Crew clinched their second event win of the season.
But just in case you weren’t paying attention – here are five things you might have missed in Valencia.
1. U.S. SailGP Team makes history with Final win
By adding to their win earlier this season in Sydney, the U.S. SailGP Team pulled off a feat never before seen in the team’s history: winning multiple events in a single season.
A truly Super Sunday saw the Crew slingshot their way into the event Final by winning Race B4, before a nervy wait to see whether ROCKWOOL Racing or Los Gallos would punch their ticket instead. They didn’t.
The U.S. SailGP Team crosses the line in Valencia to win the 2026 Spain Sail Grand Prix
The U.S. SailGP Team then delivered a remarkable Final performance thanks to clinical timing and execution.
Three-time SailGP Champions the BONDS Flying Roos have only ever lost three of 12 Finals after leading at Mark 1. Thanks to the Crew, they can now make that four – a mark of exactly how strong this SailGP fleet is.
2. Los Gallos’ tale of two halves
Champions in 2024, Los Gallos have been the form team of late, moving into P2 in the Championship standings with back-to-back wins in Halifax and Portsmouth.
The hosts looked like giving their home supporters exactly what they were looking for in Valencia on Saturday by claiming back-to-back race wins in Group B.
But on Day 2, Diego Botin’s crew could not get the job done despite sitting five points ahead of the U.S. SailGP Team overnight. They could only finish P6 in the day’s single fleet race, missing out on the Final instead.
Sunday’s showdown on the Mediterranean was not only historic for the U.S. SailGP Team – Red Bull Italy reached its first event Final.
A brand-new franchise in 2024, the Italians impressed on Saturday by picking up a pair of race wins to sit firmly in Final contention overnight.
Phil Robertson’s team completed the job on Day 2 with a third race win of the event, booking their place alongside the U.S. SailGP Team, BONDS Flying Roos and ROCKWOOL Racing.
They finished P3 overall – laying down an impressive marker ahead of the run-in.
Hollywood A-listers Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman have come a long way since reluctantly teaming up as Deadpool & Wolverine for the 2024 blockbuster by the same name.
They’re now co-owners of the BONDS Flying Roos but, during practice, the actors went head-to-head under their national flags in a battle of the F50s.
That meant Canadian star Reynolds hopping on board with NorthStar, while proud Aussie Jackman joined up with Tom Slingsby’s team.
It was Reynolds and NorthStar who came out on top in a match-up that is sure to be included in the upcoming Disney Plus docu-series following the duo’s purchase and involvement in the Flying Roos.
Stay tuned for the re-match!
5. Championship battle hots up
With three rounds to go, it’s all to play for in the 2026 Rolex SailGP Championship.
Despite missing out on the ultimate prize, the BONDS Flying Roos added nine points to their season tally (85 points), and look to have one foot in the Grand Final at the end of November.
Even after the disappointment of missing Sunday’s Final on home waters, Los Gallos (68) has a healthy lead in P2. Sunday’s big winner in every sense was the U.S. SailGP Team, leapfrogging Artemis and Emirates GBR to move back into P3 by a point.
With three events to go - all expected to be light-air conditions - the battle is on to secure one of those three golden tickets to the Grand Final in Abu Dhabi on November 28-29.
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