A fierce start
The fourth and final race of the day saw the Black Foils burst off the start line with raw pace, surging alongside Australia in the opening sprint. Both teams quickly distanced themselves from the pack, finding pressure lanes that propelled them clear.
Behind them, the race turned chaotic almost immediately. The USA and Emirates GBR became entangled in a disastrous port–starboard incident, with the Americans colliding into the British boat. The result was catastrophic — the USA’s bow was ripped away, debris scattered across the course, and both boats were forced out of the race.
It was a bitter blow for the Americans, who had been sailing consistently all day, and a nightmare for Emirates GBR, who were already reeling from their Race 3 collapse.
Black Foils in control
Up front, the Black Foils and Australia traded manoeuvres in gusty offshore breeze. Liv Mackay and Peter Burling called the shifts with precision, while flight controller Andy Maloney kept the boat balanced through punishing pressure swings.
Australia rolled the dice with a course split, but the gamble didn’t pay. New Zealand held their line, picked up fresh breeze on the final approach, and surged clear. For Burling’s crew, it was the perfect way to end an up-and-down day — delivering a bullet when it mattered most.
Canada on the rise
Canada’s Giles Scott and his North Star crew produced one of their best performances of the season. Smart tactical calls, including a bold right-hand split upwind, propelled them into podium contention. They defended well against France and Spain in the closing stages, securing third behind New Zealand and Australia.
For a team still finding consistency, this was a valuable marker against some of SailGP’s giants.
Mid-fleet battles
France again showed flashes of pace, but penalties and protests disrupted their rhythm, leaving them just outside the podium. Spain, so explosive at times earlier in the day, had to settle for fifth.
Germany, cheered on by a packed Sassnitz shoreline, delivered another solid performance with sixth. While not quite matching their Race 1 heroics, consistency across the day kept them in the hunt. Denmark and Switzerland were less fortunate, unable to convert strong speed into top-five finishes. Italy, who had impressed in Race 2, slumped to ninth as their form faltered late in the day.
A day of four winners
The headline belonged to the Black Foils, but the wider story was Sassnitz itself. Four races, four different winners — Germany, Emirates GBR, Australia, and now New Zealand. The narrow, gusty course offered opportunities everywhere, but punished mistakes mercilessly.
The USA–GBR crash will dominate overnight talk, with both teams facing a scramble to repair their boats in time for Day Two. For New Zealand, the win was a much-needed momentum shift, proving once again that the Black Foils remain one of the most dangerous crews when the chips are down.
