Australia sets SailGP event points record as Spain edges USA into Rio final

Tom Slingsby and the BONDS Flying Roos closed out the Rio fleet racing programme with a third consecutive Sunday win, finishing on 58 fleet race points across seven races. That total is the highest at any single event since season five in Sydney.

France never reached the finish. Quentin Delapierre and DS Automobiles France were black-flagged at the start of the final fleet race after failing to keep clear of Germany as the windward boat, the umpires ruling an immediate disqualification. Eleven boats contested race seven where twelve had been.

Switzerland led at the first mark, two seconds clear of Sweden, with BONDS Flying Roos third just 3.2 seconds off the pace. The racing in those opening exchanges was tight and fractious. USA picked up a penalty at the second mark for fouling Canada and served it promptly. Canada then collected three penalties for fouling Italy and dropped to the back of the fleet. Through that early congestion, a separate contest was already taking shape: four points separated USA and Spain heading into the final fleet race, with either side capable of claiming the last qualifying spot for the event final. BONDS Flying Roos and Artemis Racing had both already confirmed their places.

Spain read the conditions better. USA drifted into traffic mid-race, got pushed to the left side of the course too early, and never recovered the ground lost. Spain picked through the congestion cleanly, chose the favoured gate, and moved through the fleet. With two legs remaining and USA sitting seventh while Spain held fourth, the qualifying picture had resolved itself.

Australia had taken command by the fifth mark, Germany 15 seconds back, Sweden third at 20 seconds. BONDS Flying Roos had worked through the fleet after rounding the first mark just 3.2 seconds off the leader, and as the race entered its final stages, Australia and Germany were racing each other as much as the rest of the fleet. The two boats arrived at the finish line together, Australia taking the gun by seven tenths of a second. Sweden crossed third at 32 seconds, Spain fourth and into the final, Switzerland fifth, Denmark sixth, USA seventh, Brazil eighth, Italy ninth, GBR tenth, Canada eleventh.

Slingsby had left day one reportedly unhappy with an umpiring call. Whatever that stirred up, Sunday's racing delivered the clearest answer: three race wins in a row and a points total that stands as the highest at any event since season five in Sydney.

Artemis Racing finished third in race seven and confirmed their place in the event final, a first for the team. For Outteridge, Andy Maloney, Brad Farrand and the crew, it is new territory, the first time the team has reached this stage. Los Gallos take the third qualifying spot, with Botin and the new ownership group heading into the final with the confidence of a team that has made this stage consistently.

The event final is a three-way contest between BONDS Flying Roos, Artemis Racing, and Los Gallos. One race, winner takes all.

Race results

Fleet race 7 results

Fleet race total results

Note although Artemis lies second in this table the event points places Los Gallos in second and taking the nine points.