Super Sunday dawns in Cádiz
The Bay of Cádiz shimmered under light morning air as Race 5 got underway — the first race of Day 2, and the fifth of the event. After Saturday’s drama, only one point separated leaders Rockwool Denmark and Emirates GBR, while New Zealand’s Black Foils sat third on 22 points.
Wind speeds hovered around 11 km/h, gusting to 20, with a steady left shift making conditions more open than Day 1. The fleet used the 24-metre wing and light-air T-foils, demanding delicate balance and perfect coordination from flight controllers.
Broadcast interference from the port’s crowded airwaves couldn’t mask the energy in the bay — or the roar from Spanish fans packed along the seawall.
Flying start for Spain
As the clock hit zero, Spain, Australia, and France launched cleanly from the line. Denmark jumped early, earning an OCS penalty.
By Mark 1, Spain’s Los Gallos led by 3.6 seconds from Australia, with France third. The home team’s timing was immaculate — skipper Diego Botín threading the boat perfectly across the first reach while the crowd erupted in applause from the promenade.
The early downwind leg saw Spain, Australia, and New Zealand pull clear, each fighting to stay foiling through the chop. “It’s all about staying on the foils,” commentator Lisa Darmanin noted. “Fall off once and you’ll lose hundreds of metres.”
Australia’s moment of honesty
Mid-race, Australia’s Tom Slingsby called it as he saw it. “We’re slower than the Spanish,” he admitted over comms — a rare flash of vulnerability from the three-time SailGP champion. His Flying Roos were trading blows with the Kiwis, but Spain had found another gear.
As Darmanin observed from the water, “The Spanish are in space — out of phase with the others but making it work.” The Australians tried to interfere with New Zealand’s lane, but a small handling error cost them speed.
Meanwhile, Peter Burling and Blair Tuke onboard the Black Foils were methodical. Having shaken off a sluggish start, they trimmed the gap from 30 seconds to just 10 at Mark 4, the F50 balanced on a knife-edge through the rougher patches.
Spain’s surge and Kiwi chase
The decisive moment came on the long downwind leg. Spain’s wing trimmer Florian Trittel made a subtle adjustment that transformed their pace. “They’ve powered up the wing — that’s like going from a propeller plane to a jet,” remarked the broadcast team.
In seconds, Spain surged past New Zealand, turning a narrow duel into a clear lead. “Spain looked like they were on a private supersonic jet,” said analyst Stevie Morrison. “They just blew past the Kiwis.”
As the crowd roared along the seawall, Spain rounded the final mark cleanly and sprinted down the finishing leg.
Los Gallos bring it home
At 02:45:54 NZT, Spain crossed the line first, completing the course in 7 minutes 53 seconds. The Black Foils followed 15 seconds behind, with Australia finishing 39 seconds off the lead after an otherwise strong race.
Behind them, Germany and Emirates GBR rounded out the top five, while Denmark fought back from their penalty to finish seventh. The Italian and Canadian teams trailed the field after extended battles with boundary penalties.
For Spain, it was an emotional moment — their first home-water race win in SailGP. The grandstands erupted as Botín and his crew crossed the line, fists pumping. “You want to know what class under pressure looks like?” said the broadcast host. “That Spanish team right there.”
What it means for the event
Spain’s victory tightens the mid-fleet standings and keeps them mathematically alive in the race for a Grand Final berth in Abu Dhabi. It also resets the mood after a mixed opening day that saw them finish last, third, ninth, and fourth.
For New Zealand, the second-place result steadies their campaign. The Black Foils now sit closer to the top three, while Burling praised the crew’s composure after a shaky start.
Australia, meanwhile, continue to wrestle with inconsistency. Slingsby’s candid admission mid-race captured the challenge of maintaining pace across changing conditions. Still, a third-place finish is valuable damage control — keeping the champions in touch with the leaders.
Fleet Race 5 results
1st, Spain, 10 pts
2nd, Black Foils, 9 pts
3rd, BONDS Fling Roos, 8pts
4th, Germany by Deutsche Bank, 7 pts
5th, Emirates GBR, 6 pts
6th, France, 5 pts
7th, ROCKWOOL Racing (Denmark), 4 pts
8th, United States, 3 pts
9th, Mubadala Brazil, 2 pts
10th, Switzerland, 1 pt
11th, NorthStar Canada, 0 pts
12th, Red Bull Italy 0 pts
SailGP’s margin of error is microscopic
Race 5 reminded everyone that SailGP’s margin for error is microscopic — and that the home crowd can still make a difference. With three fleet races and the final remaining, the stakes in Cádiz couldn’t be higher.
As the Spanish team rolled back into the tech base, the fans were still chanting “¡Vamos Los Gallos!” across the bay — proof that passion, precision, and a perfect start can still turn a Sunday morning into something historic.
