Emirates GBR back up Race 5 win with Race 6 victory as Perth SailGP final looms

Emirates GBR delivered a composed late-race performance in Fleet Race 6 at the Perth SailGP, converting precision and perfect timing into a decisive victory as the fight to qualify for the event final reached its most intense stage.

Super Sunday brought no let-up in the conditions. The combination of a short, aggressive sea state and an unsteady breeze continued to punish any hint of over-commitment, with several boats losing stable flight at costly moments. Every team entered Race 6 knowing the margin for error had effectively disappeared, and that clean, controlled sailing would matter more than bold gambles.

Germany moved with early purpose, leading the fleet back toward the start, while Canada and Australia pushed bravely on the line. Denmark produced another strong launch, though the shifting, gusty conditions made holding early advantages extremely difficult. Emirates GBR and Artemis took a more measured approach, giving themselves room and prioritising control over aggression from the outset.

The race tightened considerably by Gate 2. DS Team France navigated cleanly through a congested pack and took command of the front group, while Emirates GBR separated from the traffic and began building speed down the course. The middle legs brought repeated compression points, with multiple teams forced into quick evasive action as passing lanes closed rapidly around them.

France led confidently into the final two legs and looked well placed to secure a second win of the regatta. The late stages proved decisive, though. Emirates GBR closed the gap relentlessly, and when France over-ran the final mark and missed the optimal entry on the approach to the last layline, the British team seized the opening without hesitation, executing a textbook final turn to cross the finish line ahead and take the win.

Australia's Bonds Flying Roos recovered strongly through the field to claim third, while Artemis worked through traffic and absorbed penalties to finish fourth, a result that kept their overall event campaign firmly alive. Switzerland rounded out a solid performance to finish inside the top five, showing clear improvement in both control and confidence following their collision the previous day.

Italy, who had held an early lead, slipped back to seventh as the race stretched out, and the USA recovered to eighth after spending much of the race deep in the pack. Denmark and Germany each continued to struggle with the fine balance between pushing for outright speed and maintaining stable flight, with penalties and splashdowns proving costly for both teams.

Fleet Race 6 shifted the Perth leaderboard yet again. Emirates GBR backed up their Race 5 win with authority, France demonstrated they remain a front-running threat despite the late error, and the gaps between the leading contenders continued to narrow.

One fleet race remains before the event final, and Perth is still entirely open. Discipline, far more than daring, continues to determine who moves forward.

Race results