It’s almost time for one of the most highly-anticipated events in SailGP’s history, as Halifax hosts the first-ever ROCKWOOL Canada Sail Grand Prix this weekend.
Two days of fast and furious racing along the Halifax waterfront will see our ten national teams go head-to-head bidding to be crowned winners of the inaugural CanadaSGP, in front of a sell-out crowd.
But what are the big talking points heading into this weekend’s racing? SailGP.com takes a look at the five things you need to watch out for when we hit Halifax on Saturday and Sunday!
Sold out racing as we head to Canada
Halifax Harbour is set to be the epicenter of excitement with sold out crowds lining the waterfront to catch every moment of SailGP’s fast and furious racing. The vibrant capital of Nova Scotia is buzzing as one of SailGP’s most hotly-anticipated events has finally arrived, with spectators preparing themselves for a weekend of high-octane racing. The local support – who will surely be cheering on Phil Robertson’s hometown heroes – promises to make the atmosphere truly electric. You definitely don’t want to miss this.
The perfect opportunity for a United States bounce back?
Canada might be the hometown heroes in Halifax, but all eyes will be on the United States as they attempt to recover from their dramatic capsize in Bermuda last time out. A practice racing error saw the USA ruled out of the entire weekend’s racing on the Great Sound, and Taylor Canfield’s team have serious work to do to move up the leaderboard. Will they rise to the challenge and reclaim their position among the leaders?
A new venue means new challenges
The ROCKWOOL Canada Sail Grand Prix marks SailGP’s first-ever visit to Halifax, bringing the excitement of elite racing to the Canadian coast. The new venue means fresh challenges for the teams, but also brand new opportunities which can be capitalised on by those who adapt quickly to the unique conditions of the harbour. This adds an extra layer of unpredictability to SailGP’s already unpredictable racing – and makes Halifax a can’t miss event on the racing calendar.
The race for third heats up
The battle for third place is intensifying, with only three events left of Season 5. The top three teams at the end of the campaign qualify for the winner-takes-all Grand Final, and while Spain are in the driving seat at this moment in time, that could all change very quickly. ROCKWOOL Denmark and France both sit just nine points behind Los Gallos, and a good showing in Halifax for either of those teams could see them close the gap heading into the penultimate event in New York later in June. Should Spain have serious ambitions of winning the SailGP Championship, tightening their grip on third place should be at the top of driver Diego Botin’s priorities for this weekend’s racing.
Windy conditions to be the key factor?
Forecasts predict windy conditions for the races, setting the stage for a thrilling contest between seasoned athletes and those less experienced teams. High winds can be both a boon and a bane, testing the crews’ skills and strategies to the limit. The experience of handling such conditions could be the deciding factor in this high-stakes environment.
The ROCKWOOL Canada Sail Grand Prix | Halifax takes place on Saturday and Sunday, kicking off at 05:00 AEST. For broadcast information and How to Watch details, please click HERE
Click HERE to see the original SailGP article.
