Australia have claimed victory in Group B of the split fleet racing on Super Sunday at the ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix in Auckland, delivering a composed performance in unsettled conditions.
Helmed by Tom Slingsby, Australia crossed the finish line first in 9 minutes 19.994 seconds. Sweden secured second place, finishing 22.8 seconds behind, while the United States recovered to take third. Switzerland, Denmark and Spain completed the order.
Race 4 required an early restart before getting underway cleanly at 11.58am. Despite a reduced six boat fleet, the pressure remained high. Patchy breeze and irregular shifts challenged teams throughout the course.
Australia adopted a measured approach off the start line. Rather than forcing an early lead, Slingsby prioritised platform stability and smooth transitions onto the foils. The strategy paid dividends. By the first set of turns, Australia had established control and managed the race from the front.
The pivotal moment came early for the United States. USA were penalised following a windward and leeward incident with Denmark. After completing their penalty, they fought back into contention to secure third place. However, the loss of distance proved costly in a reduced fleet format where every position carries weight.
Spain’s campaign in Auckland continues to present challenges. After technical issues earlier in the season and further validation work in Auckland on Friday, the team entered Super Sunday seeking stability. In Race 4, Spain were unable to feature in the leading group. Time was lost progressively across each leg, and the team finished sixth.
Sweden delivered a consistent and disciplined performance to take second place. Avoiding penalties and maintaining steady boat speed, they capitalised on others’ mistakes in demanding conditions.
With New Zealand and France absent from the session, the split fleet format has reshaped the competitive landscape. Australia have appeared composed and settled across the day’s racing. Spain, meanwhile, will review performance data ahead of the next start as the Auckland event continues.
