Spain’s flying start
Race 2 began with fireworks. Spain launched off the line in perfect timing, nailing the start after finishing ninth in Race 1. Denmark chased hard into mark one, while the United States and France pressed close behind.
Australia, however, suffered an early-start penalty that dumped Tom Slingsby’s crew to the back of the fleet — seemingly out of contention.
The Black Foils were also slow out of the gate, caught in traffic near Germany and Emirates GBR. It looked like another uphill battle for the Kiwis.
Emirates GBR takes control
By the second gate, Emirates GBR had surged through the pack, Dylan Fletcher steering the British boat with sharp precision. Picking the left-hand side paid, and GBR stretched to a comfortable lead. France followed in second, maintaining pressure but never quite closing the gap.
Spain briefly looked like they could challenge again, but as the wind shifted closer to the breakwater, they lost speed, ceding ground to France and New Zealand.
Black Foils recover
Peter Burling and the Black Foils showed resilience after their slow start. A clean line through the mid-course pressure lanes allowed them to climb past Spain and into fourth. Their boat speed upwind returned just when it mattered, with Burling and Blair Tuke calling tight shifts and Liz Porebski working the wing trim with full intensity.
Still, New Zealand couldn’t quite reel in the front three, leaving them to bank valuable mid-fleet points.
Australian comeback lights up Sassnitz
The story of the race was Australia’s furious recovery. Starting from the back with a penalty, Slingsby’s team found lanes of pressure and threaded manoeuvres with precision. By the final upwind, they had clawed back to striking distance.
With Spain and New Zealand locked in a duel, Australia split, found clean breeze, and surged into third at the final gate — a comeback that had the crowd buzzing.
Mid-fleet battles and fading momentum
Germany, heroes of Race 1, couldn’t replicate their form. Despite solid positioning early, they slipped to sixth behind Switzerland. Spain ended up fifth after their electric start faltered, while Denmark and Canada struggled to stay in touch.
A day of shifting fortunes
Race 2 proved that Sassnitz offers no certainty. Passing lanes emerged everywhere, and even the best starts weren’t enough to guarantee results. Emirates GBR, however, showed why they remain a top contender: disciplined, sharp, and ruthless when given a second chance.
With two races down and two to go on day one, the scoreboard is wide open. For Germany, New Zealand, and Australia, the fight is on to stay consistent. For Emirates GBR, the mission is clear: keep the pressure on.
