Australia won a dramatic second race for Group A at the 2026 SailGP Halifax regatta, securing back-to-back victories on Halifax Harbour. Tom Slingsby’s Flying Roos edged out New Zealand in second after a late wind shift completely upended the leaderboard, relegating early leaders Denmark and Brazil to the back of the pack. France completed the podium in third.
The race proved to be a highly tactical affair, punishing teams that committed to the wrong side of the course as the breeze rotated aggressively in the final stages.
| Pos | Team | Driver | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | BONDS Flying Roos | Tom Slingsby | 5 PTS |
| 2 | Black Foils | Peter Burling | 4 PTS |
| 3 | DS Automobiles FRA | Quentin Delapierre | 3 PTS |
| 4 | Los Gallos | Diego Botin | 2 PTS |
| 5 | NorthStar | Giles Scott | 1 PTS |
| 6 | ROCKWOOL Racing | Nicolai Sehested | 0 PTS |
| 7 | Mubadala Brazil | Paul Goodison | 0 PTS |
Race 2, Group A standings.
Heartbreak for Denmark and Brazil
After finishing last in the opening race, Rockwool Denmark bounced back off the starting line. Helmsman Nikolai Sehested nailed the start in a left-shifting breeze that caught out heavy hitters Australia and New Zealand. Denmark led the fleet to Mark 1, with Brazil tucking closely behind them.
Both teams committed heavily to the left side of the course to chase wind pressure, a strategy that looked set to yield a shock podium finish. However, the Halifax breeze swung back hard to its original direction on the final leg. The sudden shift completely stranded the left side of the course, causing Denmark and Brazil to plummet to sixth and seventh by the finish.
Slingsby vs. Burling: The titan clash
The tactical reshuffle up front set up a thrilling final-leg duel between two of sailing’s fiercest rivals: Australia’s Tom Slingsby and New Zealand’s Peter Burling. Sailing toe to toe on the final upwind leg, Slingsby found a superior wind angle to secure the win for the Bonds Flying Roos.
Despite just missing out on the win, the Black Foils proved they lost no competitive edge during their four-month injury layoff, securing a second-place finish to back up their third-place effort in Race 1.
Audinet’s triumphant return props up France
DS Automobiles France claimed the final podium spot in third, marked by an inspiring comeback narrative. French strategist Manon Audinet returned to the crew after months of intense rehabilitation following an injury sustained at the Auckland event.
Audinet slotted straight back into her critical role calling the boat’s strategy and managing high-load manoeuvres. France pulled clear of Spain in the final stages, marking a highly successful reintroduction for a key player at a physically demanding regatta. Giles Scott salvaged fifth place for the home Canadian crowd.
