Emirates GBR Leads On Chaotic Day 1 In Saint-Tropez
Tricky conditions meant frenetic racing throughout Friday at Day 1 of the ROCKWOOL France Sail Grand Prix…
Published 09/12/2025
Day 1 of the ROCKWOOL France Sail Grand Prix belonged to Dylan Fletcher and Emirates Great Britain, who have a one-point lead over second-placed New Zealand.
Meanwhile, Spain and Diego Botín would have been higher than third were it not for a last-place finish in Race 4, ruining three successive top-three finishes.
Saint-Tropez promised high-speed racing conditions and did not disappoint. Venue of the long-standing SailGP speed record only recently broken in Sassnitz, the boats were fitted with 18m wings, high-speed foils and rudders.
In Race 1, the BONDS Flying Roos took control with GBR and Mubadala Brazil locked in an intense battle across the width of the course. ROCKWOOL Denmark were hot on the Aussie heels for a while before Emirates GBR moved up to second.
The U.S. SailGP Team does battle with NorthStar Canada at the ROCKWOOL France Sail Grand Prix
After opening up a 10-second gap, Australia clinched the win with Britain second and Spain pinching third. For Red Bull Italy, hydraulic issues prematurely ended their race, while there were problems on board the U.S. SailGP Team’s F50 too, meaning we were unable to start Race 2.
However, New Zealand and Peter Burling started well and were locked in a neck-and-neck battle with NorthStar Canada throughout. The Black Foils finally secured the win with Spain coming home in third place.
There was drama from the outset in Race 3 as the U.S. SailGP Team and NorthStar Canada both bailed out of the start box before the line turned white. That meant a total 180 for both teams, putting them at the back of the fleet.
At the front of the pack, Red Bull Italy led at Mark 1 and never relinquished control, despite good pressure from Los Gallos. That meant a first-ever event win for the Azzurri, with Botín and his crew securing another top-three finish.
For the U.S. SailGP Team, an Australian penalty at the line saw Taylor Canfield and co. leapfrog them into 9th as they crossed the finish.
Race 4 was perhaps the most chaotic of the lot with Tom Slingsby and the BONDS Flying Roos penalized for being on-course side at the start line, forcing them to the back of the pack. That meant the Germany SailGP Team, presented by Deutsche Bank, were first at Mark 1 - and led for much of the way.
ROCKWOOL Denmark had an issue at Gate 2, getting too high on the foils and coming back down to earth with a splash, before Australia was penalized having seemingly overtaken the Kiwis.
The U.S. SailGP Team F50 ahead of the ROCKWOOL France Sail Grand Prix
Amidst all this, the U.S. SailGP Team moved into fourth and had the third-placed Swiss in its sights.
However, another penalty, this time for failing to give way to France at the mark, cost the U.S. SailGP Team and they slipped back to seventh with the finish line in sight.
Britain took the win - just their second top-three finish of the day - with Germany second. Meanwhile, Mubadala Brazil impressively bounced back from missing Race 3 altogether to take third.
All that leaves it nicely poised for Super Saturday, with three more races before the event Final in the south of France.
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