Light breeze, narrow lanes, and a tense scrap for season points shape a gritty second race in Abu Dhabi.
Denmark set the pace early
Rockwool Denmark found the right mode from the start. They built speed quietly while others tripped over light-air patches and never looked flustered once they cleared the opening reach. Their deck comms were calm and deliberate, and they protected lanes well in traffic. The new-look afterguard, including Ed Powis on flight control, handled the marginal foiling conditions with real care.
France regrouped after a messy first race, keeping the boat moving even when the breeze dipped. Quentin Delapierre trusted the pressure lines, stayed away from unnecessary tussles, and the reward was a solid second. It was the kind of rebound the French needed to stay in touch with the leading pack.
USA continued their tidy form with another top-three finish. Taylor Canfield kept the boat in touch throughout, avoiding the slow traps that caught half the fleet. His steady approach paid off in a race that punished any overreach.
New Zealand keep it simple and bank the points
The Black Foils knew this wasn’t a race to take wild swings. Pete Burling stayed patient, calling a quiet race that focused on clean angles rather than hero moves. Fifth place won’t set headlines alight, but in a season fight this tight, those points matter. They avoided the congestion, avoided the protests, and kept moving when others stalled.
Season pressure bites hard at the back
The real tension sat in the battle between Australia and Spain. Both were early over the line and paid heavily for it. The two boats traded places through the race, often just metres apart, each pushing the other into slower water.
Spain eventually clawed back two extra places, jumping from eleventh to ninth. It looked minor on the water, yet that single position briefly tipped the provisional season standings in their favour. Australia tried to pin them, at times sailing a shadow match race rather than a fleet race, but Spain got the tiny break they needed.
With the season margin so tight, the rivalry between these two teams is becoming the defining story of the event.
Marginal breeze keeps everyone honest
Winds hovered around the bottom of the foiling range. Boats shifted between low-ride and small moments of lift as crews fought to keep the hulls light. Every gain came from reading the next patch of water rather than raw boatspeed. Timing mattered as much as trim.
In those conditions, Denmark’s composure stood out.
Two races down, two races to go, here in Abu Dhabi.
Points
Race points
1. Denmark, 10pts
2. France, 9pts
3. USA, 8pts
4. Italy, 7pts
5. New Zealand, 6pts
6. Canada, 5pts
7. Switzerland, 4pts
8. Brazil, 3pts
9. Spain, 2pts
10. Australia, 1pt
11. GBR, 0pts
12. Germany, 0pts
