A brutal Cádiz opener
Day one of the Spain Sail Grand Prix in Andalucía began with all the volatility SailGP is famous for. The first of four scheduled races delivered a dramatic reminder that rankings mean little when the Atlantic swell kicks up. Dylan Fletcher’s Emirates GBR crew seized control early and never let go, crossing the line first in 7 minutes 45 seconds.
Behind them, Switzerland stayed steady for second while the United States took third after a composed recovery. Germany rounded out the top four, with Brazil and Red Bull Italy producing some of their best racing of the season to claim fifth and sixth.
Chaos in the pack
From the start sequence it was clear the fleet faced tricky conditions. A light breeze of just 10 km/h combined with a short, choppy sea state made foiling survival as important as tactics. Germany’s Erik Heil found a gap and stormed off the line, while Switzerland’s Sebastian Schneiter grabbed the holeshot at Mark 1.
Further back, Rockwool Denmark pinned New Zealand high, forcing Peter Burling to give ground. It set the tone for a nightmare race for the Black Foils, who never recovered. Spain also fell off the foils early, leaving their home crowd silenced as Los Gallos limped at the rear.
Australia’s Tom Slingsby endured similar frustration, tangled in penalties after clashing with New Zealand. Umpires deemed the Aussies failed to give room, forcing them behind the Kiwis. The setback dropped both powerhouse teams to the bottom half of the fleet.
Mastery up front
While others stumbled, Fletcher’s British crew thrived. They sailed cleanly, conserving speed through each manoeuvre and keeping their F50 flying. Switzerland pushed hard but couldn’t force an error. The Americans, with Taylor Canfield on the wheel, pounced on every opportunity to climb the board and secure third.
The race commentary captured the difficulty: “It’s like trying to drive a Formula One car down a country lane.” Even the best flight controllers struggled to keep the boats level as they bounced through the swell. Small mistakes cost dearly, and once off the foils, teams found it almost impossible to recover.
Kiwis caught out
For the Black Foils, it was a day to forget. Penalised against Australia and then struggling to stay airborne, Burling’s crew limped home 11th. Spain fared even worse, finishing dead last in front of their home fans.
The result was a reminder of Cádiz’s unpredictable race course. With three more races to follow today, the leaderboard remains wide open, but Fletcher and his Emirates GBR team have already struck a psychological blow.
Conditions might prove the equaliser
Race 1 showed that no team is safe when conditions turn hostile. Britain’s win takes the immediate pressure off their Abu Dhabi final qualification chase, while Switzerland and the USA can draw confidence from podium finishes.
For New Zealand, Australia, and Spain, the challenge is to regroup quickly. With points at a premium and the final looming, recovery on day one is critical.
As the commentators noted: “There’s no respect for your ranking out here in Cádiz.”
