Race 6 at the Emirates Great Britain Sail Grand Prix began amid rising tension. The second attempt of the afternoon got underway, with 12 F50s launching off the line into a crowded and confused start sequence.
France crossed the line with pace and rounded Mark 1 just 18.5 seconds after the start, leading the fleet cleanly into the first turn. Behind them, Spain and Germany followed — Spain 37 seconds back, Germany trailing at 1:00.7.
The start was fraught. Switzerland, Brazil, and Switzerland all registered protests in the opening minute. Boats were bunched tightly in the mid-fleet, and New Zealand crossed the start, followed by Italy and Canada seconds later.
But within moments, the race director called it: Race Terminated.
Spectator craft forces immediate red flag
Just as the pack compressed toward the downwind gate, a small spectator vessel entered the racing area, breaching the controlled course boundaries. It was a shocking interruption and one that left the crowd and commentators in disbelief.
A red flag was raised, and although no immediate penalty was assigned, the course invasion triggered a full race abandonment.
The restart of Race 6 brought a fresh mix of tension and opportunity after a spectator boat forced the original start to be abandoned. With the course cleared and teams regridded, it was a chance to reset — and for some, redeem.
From the off, it was the French who threw down the marker. Quentin Delapierre and his crew timed the run perfectly, opting for a bold right-hand turn at the bottom gate — a deviation from the day’s dominant left strategy. It paid off in spades, opening a clear path to the wind and putting France in front.
Meanwhile, Switzerland launched off the start line with blistering speed, carving over the top of the fleet to move into second. Red Bull Italy followed in close pursuit, holding their line and staying clean through the chaos unfolding behind.
Trouble in the fleet
The Black Foils were handed an early penalty and forced to drop behind Spain, setting up a difficult comeback. Australia found themselves in an even worse position — copping a massive umpire penalty for failing to give room to Canada at an obstruction. The near-miss between the two boats was a heart-in-mouth moment, with the Aussies forced to essentially park and wait for the Canadians to pass.
The incident devastated Canada’s run and dropped Australia to the back. From a promising position in the championship, Tom Slingsby’s crew suddenly faced a steep uphill climb.
Further drama came from Spain, whose boat nosedived violently at speed — ripping off fairings and potentially damaging the structure. Replay footage showed the boat stuffing hard into the water as it tried to bear away, forcing the crew to retire from contention.
Tactical masterclass
While carnage played out astern, the French remained clinical. Their right-hand gate decision not only simplified their manoeuvres but also kept them in clean air. They stretched their lead steadily, chased by Ruggiero Tita’s Red Bull Italy crew, who showed real composure to hold second under pressure.
The Swiss, led by Sebastian Schneiter, held third through clean turns and tactical discipline. Despite a late charge by Rockwool Denmark and Emirates GBR, the Swiss stayed cool and defended their position — crucial points in their battle to stay above Australia in the finals race.
New Zealand, having started dead last, climbed steadily through the field. Their boat speed returned and the crew kept manoeuvres to a minimum, eventually fighting back to fifth place — a strong recovery that could prove pivotal in the event points race.
Final result — Race 6
- France, 10 points
- Red Bull Italy, 9 points
- Switzerland
- ROCKWOOL DEN
- New Zealand Black Foils, 6 points
- Emirates GBR
- Mubadala Brazil
- Bonds Flying Roos
- GER Deutsche Bank
- Canada
- Spain, 0 points
- United States, 0 points
What it means for the final
With one race to go before the event final, the pressure has intensified. France’s win reasserts their threat, while Italy’s consistent results move them closer to a finals berth. For New Zealand and Switzerland, the top-five finish keeps their campaigns alive. Australia, meanwhile, now sit on the bubble and will need a top result in Race 7 to avoid missing the cut.
Right now we have one more race, but as it stands its Emirates GBR, New Zealand into the finals.
