Portsmouth delivered everything we’ve come to expect from SailGP: gusty conditions, tight mark roundings, disputed calls — and for New Zealand, a return to winning form. On a day where the leaderboard shuffled with every leg, the Black Foils held their nerve and sealed a much-needed regatta victory, their first since Dubai.
What started with confusion in Race 5 ended in glory in Race 8, with the Kiwis flying high and the championship battle wide open once again.
Portsmouth SailGP begins
Portsmouth delivered high-stakes drama as four different teams claimed wins across the opening day of SailGP. Emirates GBR dominated early, Switzerland broke through with a landmark victory, the Black Foils soared in Race 3, and Australia roared back in Race 4 — setting up a fierce battle for finals contention.
Emirates GBR command Race 1 with textbook start and perfect flight
Emirates GBR launched their Portsmouth campaign in style, leading Race 1 from start to finish. A flawless start and 100% flight time gave Dylan Fletcher’s crew a wire-to-wire win, holding off pressure from Red Bull Italy and the Black Foils. France showed strong early speed but fell away after a poor manoeuvre, while Australia and Switzerland struggled to break into the top pack. The British team’s clean tactics, perfect laylines, and consistent pace set the tone for their home regatta — a dominant statement in shifting conditions on Day 1 of the Emirates Great Britain Sail Grand Prix.
Swiss break through with strategic win in Race 2 at Portsmouth SailGP
Switzerland claimed a long-overdue victory in Race 2 of SailGP Portsmouth, holding off Emirates GBR and Red Bull Italy with a tactically sharp and disciplined performance. A bold overtake at Gate 2 set the tone as Sebastien Schneiter’s crew sailed defensively but cleanly to secure their first win in over a season. Emirates GBR maintained strong form to finish second, retaining the event lead, while Italy took a promising third. New Zealand and Australia battled mid-fleet, finishing fourth and fifth. With racing tight and every point critical, the Swiss resurgence sets up an exciting showdown heading into Super Sunday.
Swiss resurgent in Race 2 as Portsmouth winds test SailGP fleet
Black Foils fly to victory in Race 3 with commanding lead
New Zealand’s Black Foils delivered a flawless wire-to-wire win in Race 3 of the SailGP Portsmouth event, reclaiming momentum with a dominant performance. Peter Burling’s crew nailed the start, executed minimal manoeuvres, and used a favoured left-hand strategy to stretch their lead to over 300 metres by the final leg. Switzerland backed up their earlier win with a strong second-place finish, while Emirates GBR clawed back from a slow start to take third. With three races down, the top three teams — Emirates GBR, New Zealand, and Switzerland — are now locked in a tight battle for the finals.
Flying Roos rebound as Australia wins Race 4 in Portsmouth
Australia’s Tom Slingsby roared back into contention with a commanding wire-to-wire win in Race 4 of SailGP Portsmouth. After a mixed Day 1, the Flying Roos nailed the start, led at Mark 1, and never looked back. Emirates GBR continued their consistent form to finish second, locking in a dominant 1–2–3 scoreline across the day. Red Bull Italy claimed third with a smart, low-risk strategy. Further back, Brazil and Germany posted season-best results, while previous race winners New Zealand and Spain struggled off the line. With three races to go, Emirates GBR lead overall, with Switzerland and Australia close behind.
Slingsby roars back as Australia wins Race 4 at SailGP Portsmouth
Day 2 begins
Emirates GBR kicked off Day 2 strongly with a Race 5 win, but New Zealand bounced back after a shaky start. The Black Foils dominated Races 6 and 7, then sealed the final with sharp tactics and perfect flight. It was a bold Kiwi comeback — and a clear signal in the title race.
Flying start for the hosts in Race 5, falter for the Kiwis
Race 5 set the tone for the day. Emirates GBR came out firing in front of the home crowd, surging to the lead early and never letting go. Giles Scott’s crew used clean manoeuvres and excellent starting discipline to dominate from wire to wire, while France and Canada rounded out the top three.
It was a more frustrating outing for the Black Foils, who struggled off the start and couldn’t claw back position. A poor time-on-distance judgment left them fighting in midfleet traffic — they finished in 7th, and briefly dropped out of final contention.
Chaos and confusion as spectator boat forces a restart in Race 6
The original start to Race 6 was pure mayhem. A spectator boat strayed onto the course just as the fleet lined up for the gun — and the timing couldn’t have been worse. Several teams were committed at speed, and with the Swiss mid-pack and New Zealand lined up to pounce, the red flag went up.
SailGP officials made the right call to abandon the start, citing safety and fairness. But for the sailors, it was a momentum reset. Emirates GBR, who looked set for another solid start, had to regroup. For New Zealand, it was a lucky break — the restart gave them another shot.
Black Foils strike back with perfect flight in the re-run for Race 6
When the race finally got underway, New Zealand made it count. A sharp start and near-flawless flight saw Pete Burling’s crew slice through the fleet. With 100% flight time and textbook mark roundings, they pulled ahead of France and Canada to take a crucial win.
The victory reignited their weekend campaign and reminded the fleet — and fans — of their precision under pressure. Emirates GBR remained consistent, finishing inside the top four, while Australia’s title hopes took a hit with another penalty.
France bounce back with dominant win in restarted Race 6 in Portsmouth SailGP 2025
Clean sweep continues for New Zealand in Race 7, they’re on a roll
Confidence flowing, the Black Foils picked up right where they left off. They surged to the lead at Mark 1 and didn’t look back, extending their advantage through every leg. France and Canada again showed form, but the Kiwis were simply too quick and too clean.
The win confirmed their place in the final — and sent a clear message. After the wobble in Race 5 and the chaos of the abandoned start, Burling and his crew were back in control.
Black Foils fly to dominant win as Swiss clinch first SailGP final spot at Portsmouth 2025
The Final: Swiss stumble, Kiwis deliver knockout blow
Switzerland, Great Britain and New Zealand lined up for the final showdown. The Swiss, with Sebastian Schneiter on the helm, nailed the start and led through the early legs — but a costly drop off the foils saw them slip down the order.
Emirates GBR threatened early but couldn’t stay in phase with the wind shifts. It was New Zealand who stayed composed, found speed in the middle of the course, and executed a perfect final turn to seal the win.
Despite a brief scare with a nosedive, the Black Foils recovered and crossed the line in first — a deserved reward for their resilience and sharp tactics.
We couldn’t be prouder! Black Foils clinch SailGP Portsmouth final in style
A Kiwi statement, a title race reignited
New Zealand’s win in Portsmouth was more than just a trophy. It was a statement: they’re still title contenders. With this victory, the Black Foils climb back into striking range in the overall standings — and reclaim the momentum that’s eluded them since Dubai.
France remain steady, the Swiss are improving, and the Aussies — after a bruising weekend — will be desperate to hit back at the next event.
But for now, it’s the Black Foils who stand tallest.
“We stayed calm, trusted the process, and made the right calls when it counted,” said Pete Burling post-race. “This one means a lot to the whole team.”
Fleet race total
The top four teams remain tightly packed, with just 9 points separating Emirates GBR in first and the BONDS Flying Roos in fourth. Red Bull Italy trails Australia by eight points and may now be out of striking distance. There’s a significant gap to the next group — Spain and ROCKWOOL DEN are tied on 29 points, with Canada just one point behind.
France sits 10th but has shown flashes of form; expect them to come out swinging in the next events. Mubadala Brazil remains the dark horse — fully capable of winning races if they can find consistency.
- Emirates GBR, 53 points
- New Zealand Black Foils, 52 points
- Switzerland, 48 points
- BONDS Flying Roos, 42 points
- Red Bull Italy, 36 points – then a big jump to the next group of teams
- Spain, 29 points
- ROCKWOOL DEN, 29 points
- Canada, 28 points
- Mubadala Brazil, 21 points
- France, 19 points
- GER Deutsche Bank, 17 points
- United States, 11 points
