Spain master unstable breeze in penalty-filled Sydney Race 3

Race 3 in Sydney delivered one of the most chaotic starts of the weekend, with shifting breeze, unstable pressure and early penalties reshaping the fleet before the first mark.

The opening phase immediately proved costly for several crews. Denmark and Australia were called OCS, Germany was forced to restart, and both Canada and Brazil were penalised for boundary infringements.

In marginal conditions, a clean start was important.

Spain was decisive and secured the start.

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Approaching the line with measured pace rather than aggression, Spain avoided the congestion at the top end of the box and accelerated through a late opening. They rounded Mark 1 in the lead, with Italy, Sweden and Canada within striking distance but already trailing.

Australia and Denmark were under pressure early, each more than a minute behind at the first mark. In unstable breeze, early separation is difficult to reverse.

Spain extended on the opening upwind leg, prioritising flight stability over raw speed. Performance data underlined the difference. Spain recorded 73 percent ride time, the highest of the fleet. While their maximum speed of 58.4 km/h was not the fastest on the water, their ability to remain airborne through manoeuvres proved decisive.

By comparison, Sweden recorded 57 percent ride time, Italy 55 percent, and the USA 57 percent. Denmark managed 62 percent but could not recover from their early deficit. In these conditions, each splashdown compounded the margin.

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Penalties continued to shape the race through the middle legs. Brazil and Denmark incurred further boundary penalties, and Canada was penalised at Mark 2. Great Britain lodged protests but remained outside podium contention.

At Mark 3, the top three were clearly defined, with Sweden and Italy within seconds of each other but unable to close on the leader. Spain continued to choose cleaner lanes and protected flight time rather than engaging in aggressive cross-course duels.

On the final leg, Spain maintained control and crossed the line with a 9:37.734 race time. Sweden secured second after a close contest with Italy, who finished third. Great Britain followed, with Brazil close behind. Australia recovered to sixth, while the USA and Denmark rounded out the order.

Race 3 was defined by sustained foiling efficiency and disciplined execution. Spain’s consistency through unstable Sydney conditions strengthened their position heading into the remaining races.

Three races down, one to go.

Results for 2026 SailGP 2026 Race 3

Event results after Race 3