U.S. SailGP Team Tied At Top On Day 1 In Perth
A fine start to the 2026 SailGP Season sees the U.S. SailGP Team competing at the top at halfway...
Published 01/17/2026
The U.S. SailGP Team finished Day 1 of the Oracle Perth Sail Grand Prix tied at the top of the leaderboard after going 3-4-3-3 to open the season.
Taylor Canfield and co. end Day 1 level on 31 event points with new team Artemis SailGP Team and DS Automobile France, after pulling off several astute maneuvers to climb through the fleet.Â
With winds of 25 km/hr gusting up to 33 km/hr, the teams utilized high-speed T-foils and rudders with the 24m all-purpose wing - having practiced on the 18m wing all week – and the J2 jib.
The U.S. SailGP Team nailed the start of the first race of the season – but it was hosts the BONDS Flying Roos who led at Mark 1. Penalties were dished out to Mubadala Brazil and Artemis before even entering the start box in a frenetic start.
The SailGP fleet in action on Day 1 of the Oracle Perth Sail Grand Prix, presented by KPMG
But drama was to follow, with New Zealand Black Foils and Switzerland colliding, prematurely ending the day for both teams. Thankfully, nobody on either crew was hurt in the collision. But that meant the fleet was down to 10 with Los Gallos’ weekend over before it had begun following a collision in Friday’s practice.Â
The Aussies led throughout and cruised across the finish line, followed home by France and the U.S. SailGP Team, starting 2026 on a high.
That continued in Race 2 with France and Quentin Delapierre winding up a textbook slingshot to sail across the start line right on time. Emirates GBR were close behind, with Germany SailGP Team presented by Deutsche Bank in 3rd before a smart maneuver from the U.S. SailGP Team on Leg 4 saw them overtake Germany.Â
The race belonged to France, who took the win, followed home by a quickly improving Artemis SailGP Team, led by the nous of former Japan driver Nathan Outteridge.Â
Race 3 saw the Swedes lay down a marker - having spent the off-season assembling a star-studded crew - by claiming their first-ever race win. That despite another eye-of-the-needle start from the back of the back by the newly re-branded DS Automobile France.
However, the French fell off the foils in the final leg, enabling Artemis to steal in and take the win. A brilliant finish from the U.S. SailGP Team saw Canfield dart under NorthStart Canada to pinch P3 at the final mark.Â
If there was an element of fortune about their first win, the same could not be said for Artemis’ second triumph, which followed shortly after.Â
Race 4 saw Red Bull Italy nail the start yet it was France - once more - who led at M1. It was all change during the first upwind leg, though, as Artemis climbed brilliantly into P1 and never let go.
ROCKWOOL Denmark and Mubadala Brazil were P2 and P3 respectively at one stage but a late penalty on the Brazilians enabled the Aussies to claim 2nd. The U.S. SailGP Team were also beneficiaries, moving from 4th to 3rd to round out a superb day.
At the halfway stage, Artemis, the U.S. SailGP Team and DS France are all tied on 31 points.
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