Artemis won a spectacular second race for Group B at the 2026 SailGP Halifax regatta, defeating Emirates GBR by a razor-thin 1.6-second margin. Nathan Outteridge’s team secured the closest finish of the day on Halifax Harbour.
The final race of day one came down to a tactical match-racing duel, with early frontrunners USA enduring a disastrous start from which they never recovered.
| Pos | Team | Driver | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Artemis | Nathan Outteridge | 5 PTS |
| 2 | Emirates GBR | Dylan Fletcher | 4 PTS |
| 3 | Explora Journeys Swiss | Sebastien Schneiter | 3 PTS |
| 4 | Germany by Deutsche Bank | Erik Heil | 2 PTS |
| 5 | Red Bull Italy | Phil Robertson | 1 PTS |
| 6 | U.S. SailGP Team | Taylor Canfield | 0 PTS |
Race 2, Group B standings.
The 1.6-second thriller
Artemis executed a flawless start to lead the pack at Mark 1, closely pursued by Dylan Fletcher’s Emirates GBR F50 catamaran. The United States team attempted an overly aggressive pre-start positioning manoeuvre that backfired completely, leaving Taylor Canfield’s crew stranded at the back of the fleet for the remainder of the race.
Up front, Outteridge and Fletcher engaged in an intense game of chess. The two world-class helmsmen matched each other stride for stride through the middle gates, calculating the exact moments to execute high-stakes foiling tacks without sacrificing boat speed. On the final sprint to the line, Fletcher sailed wide to gather maximum velocity, diving directly into Artemis’s dirty air in a desperate bid to overtake. Artemis held their nerve, crossing the finish line just 1.6 seconds ahead.
The Kiwi connection at Artemis
While racing under the Swedish flag, this Artemis crew holds massive appeal for New Zealand sailing fans. Driven by Australian Olympic champion Nathan Outteridge, the boat features two prominent Kiwi athletes—Andy Maloney and Brad Farrand—who both hail from Kerikeri, giving New Zealand dual representation in Sunday’s showdown.
Super Saturday wrap-up
Tomorrow sees another two fleet races and the final. If current form continues, we’ll see a strong Oceania-filled final. Tom Slingsby’s Bonds Flying Roos top Group A on 10 points, with the Black Foils potentially through to Sunday’s final in second on 7, a strong result on their first day back from the four-month layoff. In Group B, Artemis led on 9 points after backing up a second in Race 1 with the win here, with Switzerland through alongside them in second on 8.
A good day for New Zealand interests either way: the Black Foils potentially into the final on their comeback and an honorary Kiwi crew leading Group B.
