ROCKWOOL Racing reached its first SailGP event final since June 2024 at the Spain Sail Grand Prix, finishing fourth after a tricky day of light-wind racing in Valencia.
The Danish team went into Race Day 2 needing to hold its top-two spot in Group B just to make Sunday's four-boat, winner-takes-all final. A composed fourth in Race 4 was enough to punch its ticket into the shoot-out for the event title.
Home favourites Los Gallos SailGP Team had led the standings heading into that race but finished last, dropping out of qualification and ending their weekend early in front of a sold-out crowd on their own patch.
ROCKWOOL Racing lined up in the final against United States SailGP Team, Red Bull Italy SailGP Team and BONDS Flying Roos. But the Danish-flagged crew couldn't turn a strong weekend into a podium finish. Squeezed out at the start, they never really found a way back into the race.
Driver Nicolai Sehested called the result an important marker of progress for a team that has been steadily rebuilding momentum.
"We've still got a lot to learn and plenty to work on, but we're really pleased to be back in a final," said Sehested.
"It's been a long time since we've raced in that situation, and there are definitely things we need to sharpen in how we approach those races.
"We got a little boxed out at the start today and from there it was difficult to find a way back into the race.
"But overall, this weekend is another sign that the things we are working on are starting to click into place. We're focused on the process, we're making progress, and if we keep doing that, the results will come."
The Danes did win in Abu Dhabi in November 2025, though no event final was sailed there as that round formed part of the overall season finale.
United States SailGP Team took the win in Spain, edging out the Australian crew in a tight battle that came down to a decisive final sprint to the line.
The result lifts ROCKWOOL Racing to ninth in the Season Championship standings. They're back on the water in a fortnight, at the ROLEX Switzerland Sail Grand Prix on 19-20 September.
