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NorthStar tops group stage but penalty costs Canada a Solent podium shot, 26 July 2026
SailGP 2026

NorthStar tops group stage but penalty costs Canada a Solent podium shot

2 min read
Go Boating staff reporter

The NorthStar SailGP Team delivered one of its strongest performances of the 2026 Rolex SailGP Championship season, finishing third at the Emirates Great Britain Sail Grand Prix after a weekend of consistent racing on the Solent. The Canadian outfit topped Group A across five fleet races to earn its place on the podium.

Racing in front of packed grandstands and thousands of fans lining Southsea Common, the team showed strong pace and composure against a competitive 13-team fleet. The result moved them one place up the season leaderboard as SailGP's European leg got underway.

NorthStar and Los Gallos battle it out on the water in Portsmouth before a packed race stadium.
NorthStar and Los Gallos battle it out on the water in Portsmouth before a packed race stadium. | Photo: SailGP

Driver Giles Scott led a crew that converted precise starts into a valuable haul of championship points throughout the event.

"Amazing racing - we were sailing the boat really well in these conditions. It's nice to finish the second day on the bounce. That certainly showed in the results," said Scott.

NorthStar in action during racing at Portsmouth.
NorthStar in action during racing at Portsmouth. | Photo: SailGP

"Third place is a good and solid result, but we feel like we could have done a little bit better in the grand final. We lost our wing display, so we didn't know where the boundary was! We sailed off the course and picked up a penalty which was disappointing, but we've come away with a third place which, we have to be very pleased with."

Sail Flight Controller Billy Gooderham reflected on what the group stage win meant for the squad. "Feels good to be in the top mix and fighting with those guys. Within our group, to be able to come out first, builds confidence. We like the windier conditions - with all six of us on the boat, everybody is doing their job, which allows us to get the boat locked in and sailing as a unit."

On the final fleet race, when the team passed Spain to secure their grand final berth, Gooderham said, "We put the after burners on and we pushed the boat to what we call mode eleven. You've got to get there and that's what we managed to do."

The result keeps NorthStar's season moving in the right direction, with the team showing it can mix it at the front of the fleet. The circuit heads to Sassnitz next for the ROCKWOOL Germany Sail Grand Prix on 22-23 August.

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