Setting the scene
Cádiz is always a wild card. The narrow course, gusty breeze and lively crowd give it a festival atmosphere but also a minefield for the teams. You could feel the tension on the water from the first start — this wasn’t just about winning the weekend, it was about protecting a season.
With only three Abu Dhabi podium tickets available, and four crews bunched within six points, every decision mattered. Australia’s Tom Slingsby, GBR’s Dylan Fletcher, New Zealand’s Peter Burling and Spain’s Diego Botín all knew a single mistake could tilt the entire season.
Race by race, but more than just numbers
Race 1 – GBR make the perfect start
Emirates GBR opened the day with clinical precision, charging off the line and never looking back. Fletcher’s team banked maximum points and laid down an early marker. The Black Foils, by contrast, suffered a horror show with suspected foil issues, finishing 11th — a wake-up call that they couldn’t afford more slip-ups.
Race 2 – Denmark announce themselves
Rockwool Racing Denmark, Nicolai Sehested at the helm, delivered the day’s statement win. They handled the traffic and the light patches best, storming home in 7:58. The Black Foils steadied the ship with a second, showing their resilience, while Spain fought hard into third.
Race 3 – Australia roar back
If anyone thought the Flying Roos were off the pace, Race 3 proved otherwise. Slingsby hit his stride and flew home in 8:49, with Denmark right behind and Germany continuing their surprising form in third. The Black Foils came home sixth — not a disaster, but not enough to keep Spain from breathing down their necks.
Race 4 – Denmark again
The final race of the day belonged once more to Denmark, who crossed in just over seven minutes — a blistering run that cemented them as event leaders. GBR and New Zealand filled out the podium, while Spain slumped to fourth after boundary penalties. It was exactly the kind of swing that keeps the season knife-edge sharp.
What it all means
At the close of Day One, Denmark top the Cádiz leaderboard. But the bigger story is the season-long fight for Abu Dhabi:
Australia – 76 pts (1st overall)
Emirates GBR – 75 pts (2nd)
New Zealand Black Foils – 73 pts (3rd)
Spain – 70 pts (4th, chasing hard)
That’s just six points covering the top four, with only three advancing to the Grand Final. Denmark may be owning Cádiz by the end of Day One fleet races, but they’re too far behind in the season tally to break into the big space.
The feeling on the ground
Walking away from Day One, you got the sense that this wasn’t just another regatta. Every team knew they were racing not just for Cádiz points, but for their season’s survival. The roars of the Spanish crowd when Los Gallos surged, the sharp intakes of breath with every penalty, and the jubilation on the Danish boat — it all fed into the narrative of a league balanced on a knife-edge.
The stakes couldn’t be clearer. At the end of Abu Dhabi only one team will be crowned the 2025 season champions. Four want it. And Cádiz just turned up the heat.
