Australia's Tom Slingsby and his crew produced a composed, clinical display to win Race 6 of the Germany SailGP, with Emirates GBR crossing second and the home nation completing the podium to the delight of a packed Sassnitz crowd.
Emirates GBR had timed their start superbly, fresh from their Race 5 victory, launching off the line with precision. Australia settled in close behind, Germany claimed third off the gun, and Canada found a gap on the inside to slot into fourth. New Zealand endured a far messier beginning. Peter Burling and his crew were squeezed wide and left buried deep in the fleet alongside Spain and France, with the patchy breeze across the course making any meaningful recovery look slim from the outset.
The turning point arrived on the third leg. Slingsby's crew made a bold call to split right as Emirates GBR and Germany tracked left. It proved decisive. The Australians found a fresh pressure lane, drove the boat close to 70 km/h, and surged through to take the lead. Emirates GBR reacted swiftly, staying locked to the Australians, while Germany used their inside positioning to hold off any threats to third. For much of the remaining race, those three boats traded metres without any of them conceding their grip on the top spots.
Further back, Burling and Blair Tuke were fighting their way through the pack. The Black Foils managed to pick off Spain and Denmark as the race developed, but Canada proved just out of reach. New Zealand crossed in fifth, securing useful points while still falling short of the performance level their overall standing demands.
Spain had shown early aggression but faded to seventh. France endured a difficult afternoon, unable to break into the top half of the fleet, with protests and penalties complicating their race further. Denmark, prominent earlier in the regatta, slipped back to sixth.
The closing legs between the leading trio came down to fine margins. Australia and Emirates GBR matched each other move for move, but Slingsby's crew held their composure and crossed first by just three seconds. For Eric Heil and the Germany team, third place carried enormous significance, keeping their hopes of reaching a first SailGP final on home waters very much alive.
With only one fleet race remaining before the winner-takes-all final, Australia's victory placed them firmly in the qualifying picture. Emirates GBR maintained their position among the frontrunners, and Germany's podium gave the home crowd genuine reason to believe their team could advance to the final three.
New Zealand's afternoon served as a pointed reminder that fifth-place finishes will not be sufficient. Heading into Race 7 with everything still at stake, Burling's crew need to deliver something considerably stronger if they are to force their way into contention for the regatta.
