Emirates GBR turned in a controlled and measured display to claim victory in the second and final Group A split fleet race on Super Sunday, a result that bolstered their standing as the ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix moved into its closing stages.
Racing got underway at 12:12pm under shifting Auckland conditions, with Italy setting a strong early tempo. The Italians rounded Mark 1 just 2.6 seconds off the lead, and Germany and Canada were close in their wake. Brazil, by contrast, struggled from the outset and began dropping back almost immediately.
Rather than becoming entangled in the congestion developing at the front of the fleet, Emirates GBR chose clean lanes and applied consistent pressure. Four boats were still within reach of the lead by Mark 2, but the shape of the race was already beginning to shift in ways that would favour the British team.
The margins at Mark 3 told a clear story: Germany rounded 11.6 seconds behind the leader, while Italy and Canada remained within 15 seconds. The leg that followed proved to be the turning point. By the time the fleet reached Mark 4, Germany had slipped to 22.2 seconds adrift, Canada trailed by 35.3 seconds, and Italy was 47.0 seconds back. Brazil continued to fall away from the leading group.
Canada lodged several protests throughout the race, attempting to apply pressure through the umpires, but on each occasion the officials found no penalty to impose and the race continued without interruption.
With the outcome increasingly clear, Emirates GBR managed the final stages with the same discipline that had characterised their race from the start. At the final mark, Germany was 17.2 seconds behind, with Canada a further 7.4 seconds back at 24.6 seconds. Italy and Brazil were both more than a minute adrift by that point.
Emirates GBR crossed the finish line in a time of 6:41.107 from the start. Germany followed 27.5 seconds later to take second place, with Canada rounding out the podium in third. Italy and Brazil completed the field.
Group A4 Results
| Position | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emirates Great Britain | 5 |
| 2 | Germany presented by Deutsche Bank | 4 |
| 3 | NorthStar Canada | 3 |
| 4 | Red Bull Italy | 2 |
| 5 | Mubadala Brazil | 1 |
In a split fleet format, where small mistakes are quickly punished and gaps compound with every mark, Emirates GBR's early discipline and sustained composure gave them an advantage they never looked like surrendering. It was a clean, assured victory in conditions that offered little margin for error.
