A final built on nerve and precision
SailGP Andalucia-Cadiz all came down to three boats and seven minutes of pure tension.
Emirates GBR, New Zealand, and Germany lined up for the Spain Sail Grand Prix final with just a handful of seconds separating their qualifying scores. The light Cádiz breeze kept foils dancing on the edge, and every small error risked disaster.
GBR, helmed by Dylan Fletcher, took an early penalty for crossing before the start but recovered instantly, finding clean pressure down the first reach. Germany’s Erik Heil held the high line, while Peter Burling’s Black Foils stayed patient in pursuit.
By halfway, the fleet was compressed. GBR led by a whisker, Germany just off their hip, and New Zealand closing with trademark calm. From there, the race evolved into a tactical knife-fight — a masterclass in positioning more than pure speed.
The duel for right-of-way
As the final leg approached, Burling’s Kiwis surged to leeward, hunting overlap and a faster exit to the finish. Fletcher anticipated the move perfectly. Holding his line with millimetre precision, he claimed right-of-way, forcing the Kiwis to yield or risk infringement.
It was the moment that decided the regatta.
In the dying moments of the race, Fletcher’s Emirates GBR held their line with icy precision, forcing the Kiwis to back off. That single act of control secured the win — just seconds ahead of New Zealand and Germany.
While the crowd roared from the seawall, Emirates GBR crossed first in 7 minutes 31 seconds, with New Zealand and Germany close behind. The margin between all three boats: less than seven seconds.
A masterclass in composure
The win was vintage Fletcher — steady under pressure, unflinching in traffic, and ruthless when it mattered most. It also marked Emirates GBR’s third event win of the season, and perhaps their most complete performance to date – certainly after the exciting late manoeuvre forcing the Black Foils to give them way, and the race, a masterclass!
New Zealand’s runner-up finish was bittersweet. After a shaky opening day, Burling’s crew rediscovered their rhythm with strong results in Races 6 and 7, but the final’s defining manoeuvre left them with no legal option but to back down. Germany, meanwhile, celebrated their continued form — amazing for Erik Heil’s young team.
Fleet Race total
1st, Emirates GBR, 49 pts (one fleet race win: Race 1; finals winner)
2nd, Germany by Deutsche Bank, 44 pts (third placed, finals)
3rd, Black Foils, 42 pts (second placed, finals)
4th, ROCKWOOL Racing, 41 pts (two fleet race wins: Races 2 and 4)
5th, Los Gallos (Spain), 35 pts (one fleet race win: Race 5)
6th, France, 33 pts (one fleet race win: Race 6)
7th, BONDS Flying Roos, 31 pts (one fleet race win: Race 3)
8th, United States, 29 pts
9th, Mubadala Brazil, 25 pts (one fleet race win: Race 7)
10th, NorthStar (Canada), 23 pts
11th, Switzerland, 21 pts
12th, Red Bull Italy, 12 pts
2025 Season points to date
With just Abu Dhabi remaining in the 2025 season, the leaderboard reads:
1st, Emirates GBR, 85 pts (three event wins: Sydney, Saint-Tropez, Andalucia-Cadiz)
2nd, Black Foils, 82 pts (two event wins: Dubai, Portsmouth)
3rd, BONDS Flying Roos, 80 pts (one event win: Auckland)
4th, Los Gallos (Spain), 76 pts (two event wins: San Francisco, New York)
5th, France, 61 pts (one event win: Sassnitz (Germany))
6th, NorthStar (Canada), 48 pts (one event win: Los Angeles)
7th, ROCKWOOL Racing (Denmark), 38 pts
8th, Switzerland, 38 pts
9th, Germany by Deutsche Bank, 31 pts (one event win: Geneva)
10th, Red Bull Italy, 22 pts
11th, Mubadala Brazil, 16 pts
12th, United States, -4 pts
The gap between first and third is barely the span of a foiling tack. Fletcher carries momentum; Burling carries unfinished business. When SailGP reaches the Arabian Gulf next month, expect sparks — and perhaps another duel decided by inches.
