Los Gallos Spain have won Group A's last race of the day at the ROCKWOOL Germany Sail Grand Prix, and with it the second spot in Sunday's four-boat final. DS Team France arrived as favourites for that place and finished second-to-last instead.
A dark cloud sitting over the course promised more breeze through the middle of the race, on top of a day that had already swung from rain to sun and back to shifty, gusty conditions. Switzerland were mathematically out of contention before the start, leaving Spain and France to fight it out for the one spot still open.
Diego Botin found a gap through the middle of the fleet at the start and was clear by Mark 1, doing close to 90km/h and pulling out a lead that only grew from there. France came off the line in the same pack as Black Foils NZ and never got clear of them, stuck in the same phase and lane for most of the race with no way to match New Zealand's boat speed or find an angle to pass. New Zealand, already through to Sunday regardless of this result, lodged an early protest against France over a blocked manoeuvre near the boundary; it was dismissed. Switzerland picked up a penalty at the start and spent the rest of the race working back from the rear of the fleet.
Behind Spain, Rockwool Denmark and Red Bull Italy fought for the final podium spot. Italy were penalised for not giving Denmark room at the boundary, conceding just enough distance to let Denmark through while still holding third. Switzerland used a shift in the breeze to close back up on the fleet, catching France by exploiting a gap between the two boats' tacking patterns, and had all but drawn level by the closing stages. France, still boxed in behind New Zealand, made a heavy dip late in the race that ended any hope of a top-two finish.
| Pos | Team | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Gallos Spain | 7:55.9 |
| 2 | Rockwool Denmark | +23.6 |
| 3 | Red Bull Italy | +31.9 |
| 4 | Black Foils NZ | +37.2 |
| 5 | Switzerland SailGP Team | +53.6 |
| 6 | DS Team France | +58.8 |
| 7 | Mubadala Brazil | +1:43.7 |
*Switzerland were penalised for being over the start line early. Italy were penalised for not giving Rockwool Denmark room at the boundary. A protest from Black Foils NZ against DS Team France was dismissed with no penalty.*
Group A: Spain through, France out
New Zealand finish the day on top of Group A with 19 points, Spain through in second on 16. France came into this race three points clear of Spain and finish it two points behind them, missing the final by a single place. Rockwool Denmark end the weekend on 10, Switzerland on 9, Red Bull Italy on 7, and Mubadala Brazil on 0.
France's only consolation is that Saturday's all-time SailGP speed record of 107.63km/h still belongs to them. Sunday's four-boat, winner-takes-all final is now confirmed: Black Foils NZ, Los Gallos Spain, NorthStar Canada and Bonds Flying Roos, who sealed their places in Group B's decider earlier in the day.
