Brazil remained out of contention in this race, while GBR returned to the fleet after retiring from Race 1.
Los Gallos strike early in Rio under new ownership
Los Gallos Spain arrived in Rio under new ownership, and Diego Botin wasted no time making the introduction count. The Spanish team won the second fleet race with nine seconds to spare over Artemis Sweden, a margin that reflected how well they had the race under control from the opening leg.
GBR in trouble again
Emirates GBR were in bother before the fleet had even reached the first mark. A prestart penalty at the gun forced Fletcher’s crew into a penalty loop while everyone else sailed away. They cleared it, but they were already buried. They also lodged a protest shortly after the start. It was dismissed.
Spain, Sweden, Germany break away
Los Gallos led from mark one, with Sweden and Germany close company through the early legs. By mark two the front three had pulled clear. Sweden sat 24 seconds off the pace, Germany 37. Behind them the pack was tight and scrappy, the US, GBR, Switzerland, Italy and Australia all within about 70 seconds of the leader at mark three.
Spain then found another gear. By mark four, Germany was 14 seconds back, Sweden 19. It was over at the front.
Scrap for the minor places
The real racing in the final stages was for fourth. The US, GBR and Canada were separated by just 17 seconds at mark five. The Americans held the edge, 1:07 behind the leader against GBR’s 1:12, Canada a further 15 seconds back. That order held to the line. USA fourth, Canada fifth, GBR sixth.
Italy and Australia came home seventh and eighth, three seconds apart at mark five and barely more at the finish. Italy crossed 2:25 behind Los Gallos, Australia 2:31.
France, Switzerland and Denmark trailed in ninth, tenth and eleventh. Denmark was last among finishers, three and a half minutes off the pace.
Brazil was again DNS.
Protest flurry
The tight, shifty conditions in Guanabara Bay produced plenty of opportunity for protests. Sweden protested twice, Canada once, Switzerland twice, GBR once at the finish. All were dismissed or found no penalty.
Where things stand
Los Gallos bank ten points on a day the new owners will remember. Sweden’s second keeps them firmly in the mix. The US fourth and Canada fifth are workable scores.
GBR’s sixth is better than the zero they took in race one, but two races into the day, Fletcher’s team has a retirement and a sixth on the board. Whatever cushion they had at the top of the standings, it is getting thinner.
Two more fleet races before Sunday’s final.
Race points
Rio Fleet Race 2 results
| Pos | Team | Driver | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Gallos | Diego Botin | 10 PTS |
| 2 | Artemis | Nathan Outteridge | 9 PTS |
| 3 | Germany by Deutsche Bank | Eric Heil | 8 PTS |
| 4 | U.S. SailGP Team | Taylor Canfield | 7 PTS |
| 5 | NorthStar | Giles Scott | 6 PTS |
| 6 | Emirates GBR | Dylan Fletcher | 5 PTS |
| 7 | Red Bull Italy | Phil Robertson | 4 PTS |
| 8 | BONDS Flying Roos | Tom Slingsby | 3 PTS |
| 9 | DS Automobiles FRA | Quentin Delapierre | 2 PTS |
| 10 | Switzerland | Sebastien Schneiter | 1 PT |
| 11 | ROCKWOOL Racing | Nicolai Sehested | 0 PTS |
| 12 | Black Foils | Peter Burling | 0 PTS |
| 13 | Mubadala Brazil | Martine Grael | 0 PTS penalty (5) |
Event leadership board after Fleet Race 2
| Pos | Team | Driver | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Artemis | Nathan Outteridge | 10 PTS |
| 2 | Los Gallos | Diego Botin | 9 PTS |
| 3 | U.S. SailGP Team | Taylor Canfield | 8 PTS |
| 4 | Germany by Deutsche Bank | Eric Heil | 7 PTS |
| 5 | BONDS Flying Roos | Tom Slingsby | 6 PTS |
| 6 | Mubadala Brazil | Martine Grael | 5 PTS (penalty 10) |
| 7 | DS Automobiles FRA | Quentin Delapierre | 4 PTS |
| 8 | Red Bull Italy | Phil Robertson | 3 PTS |
| 9 | NorthStar | Giles Scott | 2 PTS |
| 10 | Emirates GBR | Dylan Fletcher | 1 PTS |
| 11 | Switzerland | Sebastien Schneiter | 0 PTS |
| 12 | ROCKWOOL Racing | Nicolai Sehested | 0 PTS |
| 13 | Black Foils | Peter Burling | 0 PTS |
