Sydney Harbour delivered a tactical opener to the 2026 SailGP Sydney opener.
With the Black Foils and France sidelined, attention shifted across the fleet before racing began. France confirmed their rebuilt F50 will return in Rio, while Kiwi interest centred on Artemis Sweden, helmed by Nathan Outteridge and featuring strong New Zealand connections.
Conditions were light and unstable, with a south easterly breeze averaging around 15 kilometres per hour and gusting higher. Big light air T foils were fitted across the fleet, matched with light air rudder winglets and the 24 metre wing paired with a large J1. Crews raced with five instead of six sailors onboard, placing greater pressure on communication and decision making across a shifty harbour course.
The start line, set beneath Shark Island, immediately tested positioning and patience. Wind shadows and pressure bends created early separation, and small lapses in boat speed proved costly. In these conditions, a splashdown meant a long, slow rebuild to take off speed.
Australia built their win on consistency. Rather than relying on a single decisive move, they protected flight time, chose manoeuvres carefully, and stayed clear of traffic. Denmark showed strong early pace but lost momentum through flight instability, allowing Australia to extend an advantage that proved decisive.
Australia took the win, with Denmark finishing 1 minute 16 seconds behind. Emirates GBR secured third, a further 1:37 behind. Italy followed at 1:57, Spain at 2:04, USA at 2:07, Sweden at 2:15, and Germany at 2:21. The final spread reflected the premium placed on staying airborne.
The midfield delivered added drama. Artemis Sweden incurred a start phase boundary penalty and were forced to recover from the back of the fleet. They steadily worked back through the pack to finish seventh, demonstrating underlying platform speed despite the early setback.
A late incident between Great Britain and Denmark resulted in protests and umpire involvement, adding further tension to an already tactical race.
Race 1 underscored the nature of Sydney Harbour racing. So far, the venue is rewarding clean air, early decisions, and disciplined flight control. Australia appear comfortable in those conditions, while Denmark and Emirates GBR remain well within striking distance.
Race 2 promises further separation, heightened pressure, and continued emphasis on precision in marginal breeze.
One race down, and three to go.
2026 SailGP Sydney Race 1 results
| POS | TEAM | DRIVER | POINTS |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | BONDS Flying Roos | Tom Slingsby | 10 pts |
| 2 | ROCKWOOL Racing | Nicolai Sehested | 9 pts |
| 3 | Emirates GBR | Dylan Fletcher | 8 pts |
| 4 | Red Bull Italy | Phil Robertson | 7 pts |
| 5 | Los Gallos | Diego Botín | 6 pts |
| 6 | U.S. SailGP Team | Taylor Canfield | 5 pts |
| 7 | Artemis | Nathan Outteridge | 4 pts |
| 8 | Germany by Deutsche Bank | Erik Heil | 3 pts |
| 9 | Mubadala Brazil | Martine Grael | 2 pts |
| 10 | Switzerland | Sébastien Schneiter | 1 pts |
| 11 | NorthStar | Giles Scott | 0 pts |
| 12 | Black Foils | Peter Burling | 0 pts |
| 12 | DS Team France | Quentin Delapierre | 0 pts |
PENALTIES & NOTES
• Black Foils to miss KPMG Sydney Sail Grand Prix due to F50 damage suffered in collision with DS Automobiles Team France at ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix | Auckland
• DS Automobiles Team France to miss KPMG Sydney Sail Grand Prix due to F50 damage suffered in collision with Black Foils at ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix | Auckland
