Britain and Australia launch early
Fresh from winning Race 5, Emirates GBR looked sharp at the start, timing their run to perfection and flying off the line. Australia slotted in behind, with Germany close in third and Canada sneaking through on the inside.
For the Black Foils, it was another shaky start. Burling and crew were forced wide and left chasing from deep in the fleet alongside Spain and France. With the breeze patchy across the course, recovery was always going to be difficult.
Mid-course momentum shift
By the third leg, Australia began to look dangerous. Tom Slingsby’s crew read the breeze perfectly, splitting right while Britain and Germany took the left. The gamble paid off — Australia found a pressure lane, accelerated to nearly 70 km/h, and rolled into the lead.
Emirates GBR responded with a sharp manoeuvre, staying glued to the Roos, while Germany used their inside track to defend third. For much of the race, those three boats traded metres but never lost their grip on the podium.
Black Foils hold steady
New Zealand fought hard in the middle of the pack. Burling and Tuke managed to climb past Spain and Denmark but couldn’t quite catch Canada. The Kiwis crossed fifth, banking points but still short of the consistency needed to secure a top-three overall spot.
Spain’s early aggression faded into seventh, while France, despite protests and penalties, struggled to break into the top half. Denmark, so quick earlier in the regatta, slipped to sixth.
A home podium for Germany
The final legs were all about precision. Australia and Emirates GBR matched each other tack for tack, but Slingsby’s crew held their nerve to cross first by just three seconds.
Germany, cheered on from the packed Sassnitz shoreline, secured third. It was a huge result for Eric Heil’s crew — vital points that kept alive their hopes of reaching their first SailGP final on home waters.
Super Sunday pressure builds
With just one more fleet race left before the winner-takes-all final, Australia’s win propelled them firmly into the qualifying picture. Emirates GBR remained steady in the top tier, while Germany’s podium gave the fans belief that the local heroes might yet sail into the final three.
For New Zealand, it was another reminder that mid-fleet finishes won’t be enough. With everything on the line in Race 7, Burling’s crew need a standout performance to join the battle for the regatta crown.
