Canada delivered a statement performance in the second race of SailGP San Francisco, snatching victory in a race filled with aggressive tactics, costly penalties, and major leaderboard shakeups. The Canadian team, led by Phil Robertson, sailed with precision, taking advantage of errors from the competition to establish themselves as a serious contender in the championship standings.
Early drama and tactical battles
The race started with a mixed bag of performances. Germany had a disastrous start, lagging significantly behind the fleet, while Brazil surged ahead early, closely followed by Italy, Great Britain, and the United States. However, penalties began to pile up almost immediately, with Germany repeatedly sailing outside the course boundary and Brazil fouling Great Britain in a windward-leeward incident. Italy, in particular, had a rough outing, incurring multiple penalties for port-tack infractions against Australia.
Meanwhile, the Canadian team positioned themselves well, playing a patient and strategic game. By the third mark, they had taken the lead, with Great Britain, New Zealand, and Australia breathing down their necks. The United States, struggling under the weight of penalties, quickly dropped down the order, dashing hopes of a strong home performance.
Canada strikes as the pack stumbles
By the mid-race point, Germany surprisingly found themselves leading, showing that early mistakes weren’t entirely fatal. However, their advantage was short-lived as another penalty for failing to give Australia mark room knocked them back. Canada seized the opportunity, overtaking the Germans.
The battle for fourth place became a heated duel between New Zealand and Australia—dubbed the “Pacific scrap”—but it was the Aussies who edged ahead, leaving the Kiwis tumbling down to seventh. New Zealand’s struggles were evident; after two poor starts in Race 1 and Race 2, their ability to recover from early setbacks was lacking, something they will need to address heading into the next races.
A commanding finish for Canada
As the final leg unfolded, Canada’s composure under pressure was on full display. They maintained their lead at Mark 5 and crossed the finish line first, securing a crucial win. Great Britain’s impressive turnaround continued as they finished just 13.9 seconds behind, showcasing a level of consistency they’ve struggled with in past events. Australia, despite multiple incidents earlier in the race, battled their way into third, proving their resilience.
Germany, despite their penalty-filled performance, recovered well enough to finish fourth, followed by Switzerland and Spain. Brazil, New Zealand, and Italy rounded out the midfield, while France and the U.S. were left trailing far behind— a brutal result for the American team, who ended up dead last on their home waters after falling off their foils mid-way through the race.
Key takeaways from Race 2
Canada’s win shifts the narrative heading into the next rounds. They proved they can capitalise on chaos and control a race from the front, while Great Britain’s steady improvement makes them a growing threat. Meanwhile, Australia remains a powerhouse despite their missteps, and Germany’s flashes of brilliance show they can’t be ignored.
On the flip side, New Zealand has major work to do. Their starts have been poor, and their mid-race execution hasn’t been sharp enough to claw back lost ground. For the U.S., the nightmare continues. Two races in, and they’ve shown no signs of home advantage.
San Francisco’s SailGP leg is already delivering on its promise of high-stakes, heart-pounding action. With the leaderboard tightening and teams finding their stride, the next races are bound to be even more brutal. Buckle up.
