Going into Race 6, the scenario was simple: New Zealand needed a solid finish—ideally ahead of Brazil—to stay inside the top three. For Brazil, it was about finding every ounce of speed and positioning advantage to leapfrog the Black Foils. Spain, sitting just behind both, was still a mathematical chance but needed other teams to stumble.
The breeze was steady but unforgiving. Every tactical call, every foil transition, every gybe mattered.
Australia’s false hope
Australia launched hard out of the gate and quickly took the early lead—textbook foiling in flat conditions. But while they controlled the front of the race from start to finish, the harsh reality was that it wouldn’t be enough to vault them into the final. Too many missed chances earlier in the regatta had left Tom Slingsby’s crew with too much ground to make up.
Canada and Great Britain were close behind in the early stages, followed by New Zealand sitting in fourth. France, already virtually assured of a place in the final, didn’t factor much in this race—but their earlier dominance meant they could afford to play conservatively.
Mid-fleet skirmish and the Black Foils holds nerve
By Gate 2, it was Canada, Australia, the UK, and New Zealand in the leading pack. The New Zealand Black Foils, helmed by Peter Burling, were holding steady in fourth—a position that could just be enough to edge out Brazil, but not if Spain or Brazil surged.
And the threat was real. Spain and Brazil were trading gybes further back, both pushing for that crucial points jump. At one stage, Brazil looked to have the advantage, but Spain found more pace late in the race and overtook them at a critical moment.
A race within a race
While Australia crossed the finish line first—capping off a disappointing event with a much-needed win—Canada secured second, and the UK slotted into third. Behind them, New Zealand crossed in fourth.
And that’s when the real tension began.
Behind the Kiwis, Spain and Brazil were locked in a drag race to the line. Whoever crossed first would almost certainly take the third and final berth in the match race final. In the end, it was Spain—beating Brazil by mere seconds, a result that will be felt deeply by Martine Grael’s crew after a consistent but not quite clinical regatta.
Finalists locked in
With the Race 6 results tallied, the leaderboard crystalised. France finished the fleet series at the top, with New Zealand hanging on for second and Spain claiming the third spot after a dramatic final push. Brazil’s late drop to fifth in the race, just behind the Kiwis and Spain, proved to be the fatal blow to their finals hopes.
Australia’s race win was bittersweet—strong, but too late. Great Britain also showed flashes of form, but inconsistency earlier in the event meant they were never truly in contention. Canada’s second place in Race 6 was their best result in New York, but not enough to lift them out of the mid-fleet pack.
Black Foils still in the fight
For New Zealand, the job was simple—don’t crash out. And while they didn’t light up the leaderboard in Race 6, their fourth-place finish was enough. It was a calculated, measured race from a team that’s matured in their tactical approach. Now, with a finals berth secured, Burling and his crew can reset and go all in for the match race.
They’ll line up against the in-form French and the fast-closing Spanish in a three-boat showdown where consistency, composure, and timing will be everything. With the New York skyline as a backdrop and the season heading into its final chapters, it’s all to play for.
Stay tuned to Boating New Zealand for full coverage of the SailGP New York final.
