Emirates Great Britain tops SailGP leaderboard in Halifax despite no wins
Halifax, NS — Despite not clinching a single race victory in the challenging waters of Halifax Harbour, Emirates Great Britain emerged as the most consistent team of the day. Their steady performance, with a 3-5-2 record, propelled them to the top of the leaderboard with 23 points. They narrowly edged out New Zealand, who finished with 22 points, and ROCKWOOL Denmark, who trailed with 21 points.
New Zealand also failed to secure a race win but maintained a strong second-place position. The Danes, however, managed to claim a decisive victory in Race 2, while Spain took the top spot in the opening race.
The event marked SailGP’s inaugural visit to Canada, drawing packed crowds who witnessed a thrilling day of racing. Strong winds added to the excitement, resulting in a day where no team dominated, and three different teams claimed victories.
Spain shone in the first race, finishing ahead of France and Emirates GBR. However, Diego Botin’s team struggled in the subsequent races, dropping to fourth in Race 2 and eighth in Race 3.
ROCKWOOL Denmark delivered a standout performance in Race 2, crossing the finish line over 10 seconds ahead of second-place New Zealand. This strong performance was offset by their sixth and fifth-place finishes in the other races, but Nicolai Sehested’s team remains just two points behind Emirates GBR in the battle for podium positions.
Australia rebounded from a poor start—finishing eighth and sixth in the first two races—to win Race 3, beating Emirates GBR and Canada.
The host nation, Canada, delivered a commendable performance for their enthusiastic fans. Despite a seventh-place finish in the first race, they secured two third-place finishes, putting Phil Robertson’s team in strong contention for a podium finish. They are tied with Spain at 20 points.
With two more Fleet Races scheduled for Sunday, the competition remains wide open. The congestion at the top of the table ensures that many teams are still in the running for a spot in the winner-takes-all Final, with no team having secured a place yet.
Stay tuned for more updates as SailGP continues to deliver high-octane racing action from Halifax Harbour.
