Canada win Race 7 as France, Australia and GBR reach Perth SailGP final

Perth's final fleet race proved to be the most consequential of the leg. NorthStar Canada delivered a dominant performance in Race 7 to take the win outright, while France, Australia, and Emirates GBR confirmed their places in the event final.

The pressure heading into that last fleet race was immense. Ten points remained on the table, and although France, Emirates GBR, and Artemis occupied the provisional top three, Australia and Canada were close enough to force every team to race for every metre. Nothing was settled before the start gun.

The conditions offered no charity. A strengthening breeze and the short, steep chop off the Fremantle shoreline kept every crew on edge, punishing poor timing and aggressive manoeuvres and rewarding only precision. Alert data confirmed multiple early compressions and overlaps as the fleet jostled for position, underlining just how fine the margins were across the entire course.

Canada's race was effectively won at the start. They launched cleanly and immediately opened clear water, crossing into the first leg with control they would never relinquish. Australia and France slotted in behind them, while Emirates GBR suffered an immediate setback, absorbing a penalty for sailing outside the boundary and dropping to the back of the fleet. For a team whose final ambitions depended on this race, that was a threatening position to be in.

The picture clarified further as the boats funnelled toward Gate 2. Alert data showed Canada leading consistently through the opening gates, with France and Australia forming a stable second group. Artemis, by contrast, were in trouble early, running deep and losing critical distance in traffic. By the midpoint of the race they had dropped outside the top ten, their chances of reaching the final slipping rapidly.

A sequence of mid-race incidents added further drama. Brazil were penalised for a boundary infringement, and a high-risk manoeuvre between Germany and Italy at the bottom gate forced both into evasive action. Italy survived a dramatic foiling moment, but the distance surrendered in doing so came at a significant cost.

Up front, Canada never faltered. Clean gate roundings and uninterrupted legs allowed NorthStar to stretch their advantage beyond challenge. France sailed a measured, low-risk race to consolidate second, and Australia's Bonds Flying Roos held third with precise execution despite constant pressure from behind.

Emirates GBR's response to their early penalty was impressive. They climbed steadily back through the field, recovering to fourth by the final legs. While that left them off the Race 7 podium, their cumulative points across the fleet phase were sufficient to carry them into the event final alongside France and Australia.

The battle for the remaining places continued to the line. Switzerland completed a solid race following Saturday's collision, finishing ahead of Germany. Denmark and Italy traded positions through the final legs, and Brazil edged Artemis in a sprint to the line for a solitary championship point.

At the finish, Canada crossed first, France second, Australia third, and Emirates GBR fourth. Those results confirmed the three event finalists and brought the fleet phase to a close.

Race 7 wrapped up Perth's fleet racing with the pace, consequence, and unforgiving margins that define SailGP. With seven fleet races completed, all attention now turns to the event final, where France, Australia, and Emirates GBR will contest the first trophy of the 2026 season.

Race points

Fleet race total