The third race of the 2025 KPMG Australia Sail Grand Prix delivered high-stakes drama, with Australia and Switzerland battling fiercely at the front of the pack. Meanwhile, Great Britain remained in hot pursuit, ensuring the fight for victory was anything but straightforward.
But as the leaders put on a masterclass in precision sailing, New Zealand suffered their most disappointing result of the season, finishing a dismal 10th—beaten only by Brazil, a team still finding their footing in SailGP.
Australia vs. Switzerland: A battle at the top
From the starting gun, it was clear that this race would be a showdown between Australia and Switzerland. Both teams executed sharp tactical manoeuvres, keeping each other in check throughout the race. Tom Slingsby’s Australian crew, still stinging from their loss to Great Britain in race two, were determined to reclaim the top spot.
Despite Switzerland’s impressive speed, the Australians held their nerve, showing the kind of dominance that has made them the team to beat in the SailGP circuit. Great Britain, fresh off their earlier win, stayed in the mix but ultimately couldn’t close the gap, finishing in third place.
Denmark’s brilliant late-game surge
While the battle at the top kept fans on the edge of their seats, there was no shortage of action in the mid-fleet. Germany started strong, but it was Denmark who stole the show with a late-race surge. In a display of tactical brilliance, they navigated the final stages with precision, moving up the ranks to finish ahead of Canada and Spain.
Canada, as always, remained steady in the mid-pack, while Spain struggled to make significant gains. Germany, despite a solid showing, ultimately fell behind the Danish team in the closing moments.
New Zealand’s nightmare continues
For Kiwi fans, race three was a bitter pill to swallow. A 10th-place finish marked their worst performance of the season, raising even more questions about what’s going wrong within the New Zealand camp.
Once again, attention is turning to Peter Burling’s decision-making as well as the impact on performance from the rest of the team. The persistent struggles suggest the team’s issues run deeper than just inexperience. With back-to-back poor results in Sydney, the Kiwis need answers fast—or risk falling completely out of contention for the season.
Looking ahead: Can New Zealand recover?
As the Sydney event continues, Australia has firmly reasserted their Flying Roo dominance, while Switzerland has proven they are more than capable of challenging the top teams. Great Britain remains a constant threat but will need at least one more win, and Denmark’s late-race heroics have added another layer of intrigue to the fleet’s pecking order.
But the biggest storyline remains New Zealand’s struggles. Once a championship contender, they are now battling near the bottom of the table. With time running out, Burling and his crew need to figure out what’s wrong—and fix it—before their season slips away entirely.
