Swiss resurgent in Race 2 as Portsmouth winds test SailGP fleet

The second fleet race of the Emirates Great Britain Sail Grand Prix in Portsmouth saw the Swiss team take a hard-earned and highly strategic victory, their first in over a season. It was a breakthrough moment for a team that has often shown potential but rarely converted that into results.

Switzerland’s decisive move came early — overtaking Red Bull Italy with a well-timed dive at Gate 2. They then played a defensive but smart race, holding off challenges from both Emirates GBR and the Italians while avoiding costly manoeuvres. Their final mark rounding was sharp, forcing the British to alter course, which effectively secured the win.

For Emirates GBR, it was another race of measured aggression. Dylan Fletcher and Hannah Mills showed top-end boat handling and tactical discipline, minimising distance and consistently choosing faster lanes. Despite briefly losing overlap near the final gate, they held their nerve and took a solid second place — keeping them atop the leaderboard after two races.

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Italy’s Ruggiero Tita started well and stayed in the fight throughout, managing third — a strong result for a team that has often been buried in the mid-fleet. For a new strategist on board and a team still growing in cohesion, this was a promising sign.

Further back, Peter Burling and the Black Foils recovered from an aggressive early battle with Australia to finish fourth, narrowly ahead of the Aussies in fifth. Spain, after a poor start, quietly worked their way into sixth, while the USA improved slightly from Race 1 with a seventh.

It was a day of mixed fortunes. The USA climbed from ninth in Race 1 to seventh in Race 2, while Canada held steady with another mid-pack result. Germany salvaged a ninth after crossing early, and Rockwool Denmark — third in the earlier race — dropped to tenth, a disappointing result that typifies their struggle for consistency this season.

With only four races today and three more tomorrow before the final, every point is critical. Teams must now balance aggression with consistency, especially on a complex, obstacle-laden course like the Solent, where local current, ferry lanes, and tight boundaries punish hesitation.

The event continues with two more races today. With Emirates GBR looking sharp and the Swiss clearly in the mix, the battle for Super Sunday is already shaping up to be a thriller.

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Results from Race 2

1. Switzerland, 10 ^pts
2. Emirates GBR, 9 ^pts
3. Red Bull Italy, 8 ^pts
4. New Zealand, 7 ^pts
5. BONDS Flying Roos, 6 ^pts
6. Spain, 5 ^pts
7. United States, 4 ^pts
8. Canada, 3 ^pts
9. GER Deutsche Bank, 2 ^pts
10. ROCKWOOL DEN, 1 ^pts
11. Mubadala Brazil, 0 ^pts
12. France, 0 ^pts

Fleet Race Total

1. GBR with 19 ^pts
2. Switzerlandwith 16 ^pts
3. New Zealand with 16 ^pts
4. Spain with 12 ^pts
5. Red Bull Italy with 11 ^pts
6. BONDS Flying Roos with 10 ^pts
7. ROCKWOOL DEN with 9 ^pts
8. CanadaGiles Scott with 8 ^pts
9. United States with 6 ^pts
10. GER Deutsche Bank with 2 ^pts
11. Mubadala Brazil with 1 ^pts
12. France with 0 ^pts