Los Gallos Spain levels the score in Race 2 as USA joins the fleet

Spain won Race 2 of the Mubadala New York Sail Grand Prix, beating Emirates GBR by 13.5 seconds with Team USA a further 33 seconds back in third. After GBR took Race 1, the score sits at one apiece heading into Race 3.

USA joined the fleet for the second race, giving the East River course its first three-boat contest of the day.

Spain won the start. GBR crossed the line two minutes later after what looked like a conservative approach to Mark 1, sailing a wide angle to stay safe in the gusty conditions. Spain led at Mark 1 by three seconds, and GBR closed that to a whisker at Mark 3, the gap down to under a second. The race turned at the top of the course on the fifth leg. Spain found more pressure on the left side of the course, executed a clean compound manoeuvre, and came out 15 seconds ahead. GBR attempted to respond lower on the course but overloaded the foils coming out of the manoeuvre, losing the grip needed to convert. Spain held the lead from that point, finishing 13.5 seconds clear.

USA, out on the water for the first time in the day, spent much of the race 25 seconds or more off the pace, at one point sailing into a wind hole on the right side of the course while Spain hit 80 kilometres per hour on the left. They finished 46.9 seconds behind Spain.

- Advertisement, article continues below -

Average speeds around the course hit 64 kilometres per hour across both races, reflecting near top-end conditions for the F50s. Lighter winds are forecast for Sunday.

Peter Burling and Blair Tuke watched from race HQ. Tuke confirmed Louis Sinclair, injured in the Auckland collision earlier this year, is recovering well in Antigua but will not return until the end of the season, with Stu Dodson filling in. The Black Foils are targeting Halifax on 21-22 June for their return to racing.