Great Britain launch SailGP defence with Perth glory

Emirates GBR kicked off their SailGP title defence in emphatic fashion with a dominant victory in Perth, bouncing back from an average opening day in Australia to win back-to-back fleet races and the final.

After a controversial crash took out the Black Foils and Switzerland in the first minute of racing yesterday, overnight repairs saw the Swiss back on the water for day two, but New Zealand weren't so fortunate – docked seven event points for the collision and sitting on negative numbers, they were forced to watch from the sidelines as their F50 undergoes repairs.

But the real story heading into day two: who was going to make that final? Artemis, USA and France were locked together on 31 points, while Season 5 champions Emirates GBR sat fifth in the standings, looking decidedly off their dominant form.

That changed quickly. The Brits rattled off back-to-back race wins before delivering a masterclass in the three-boat final against France and Australia, claiming the season-opening event and sending a clear message to the fleet.

Dylan Fletcher timed his attack to perfection in Race 5, stealing the lead from Phil Robertson's Italy on the penultimate leg to win the race and revive Emirates GBR's hopes of making the Perth final.

It had been a drag race between Denmark and Italy straight out of the gate, both crews firing down the course at over 90kmh before Nicolai Sehested rounded mark one first. But Robertson's Italians seized the lead by the second gate, looking in control.

That's when Fletcher made his move. GBR split from the leaders at gate three and were rewarded with second place. While France challenged Denmark for third, Fletcher kept pushing hard and manoeuvred around Robertson's crew to claim the race win – crucial points after finishing fifth yesterday.

“We've had a good few days training here in Fremantle,” said new GBR wing trimmer Stu Bithell. “Learning lots every day, and really nice to have a good start.”

Behind them, Tom Slingsby's Flying Roos threaded through the fleet to snatch third from Denmark on the final stretch in an incredibly close pack. The Danes took fourth, France fifth.

The pecking order was being shaken up. Yesterday's frontrunners Artemis, the start-up Swedish team who looked untouchable on day one, finished in sixth. Taylor Canfield's USA were suddenly looking vulnerable, their ninth place result dropping them out of the top three.

Dylan Fletcher made it two out of two in Race 6, sneaking past Quentin Delapierre's France just before the line to continue Emirates GBR's remarkable resurgence in Perth.

An extremely tight start saw Australia, France and Canada jostle for position before Quentin Delapierre's Les Bleus emerged in front, the Flying Roos hot on their heels. As the fleet compressed it was anybody's guess who would come out ahead.

Dylan Fletcher's Emirates GBR capitalised on the mayhem, sitting just three seconds off France by gate three before stealing the lead – again – to claim their second consecutive win. Australia rounded out the podium in third, Sweden finishing fourth.

The casualties? USA, perhaps struggling in the bigger waves from yesterday, dropped to the back of the fleet before finishing in eighth – almost certainly ending their final hopes.

The leaderboard after Race 6 showed France, Emirates GBR and Artemis in the top three, with Slingsby's crew just three points off in fourth. “It's real snakes and ladders,” said the Australian driver. “We know if we can do two clean laps, we’ll be off. So that's our goal for this last one. Just got to try to win the race and see how the points stack up after that.”

The final fleet race began disastrously for Nathan Outteridge's Sweden – a terrible start left Artemis at the back of the fleet with a mountain to climb to guarantee their top-three position. Out front, Canada, France and Australia shook out as the leaders while everyone scrambled for room on the opening leg.

Tom Slingsby's Flying Roos needed to beat Artemis by a place to make the final, and with the Swedish boat at the back of the fleet, things were looking good for the Aussies. The battle came down to Emirates GBR – starting the race mid-fleet after a pre-race boundary penalty – and Artemis to see who could take the most points.

It wasn't meant to be for the Swedish. They fouled Brazil, picked up a penalty, and finished last to end their event hopes in devastating fashion.

Meanwhile, Giles Scott made it look easy. With a clear race course and clean wind, NorthStar Canada extended at the front of the fleet, crossing the line 24 seconds ahead of France, with Australia finishing in third.

As the points settled, the three teams heading into the final were DS Team France, Emirates GBR and the BONDS Flying Roos – Artemis on the outside looking in.

“I think the whole team did a really good job to be ready for the first Grand Prix of season six,” said Quentin Delapierre. “Super pleased to welcome Leigh [McMillan] and Bruno Mourniac with this first final. The Brits and the Aussies are quick, so I expect the positions to be a little bit locked in after the start – so full focus on the start.”

Thirty seconds before the start, disaster for Australia. A boundary penalty forced Tom Slingsby's Flying Roos to stay behind as the gun fired, as Dylan Fletcher's Emirates GBR nailed the perfect start into the Perth final.

But Australia weren't done. While Quentin Delapierre's Les Bleus pressured the British leaders, Slingsby's crew clawed back to second shortly after, locked in and chasing GBR around the course. From there, it became a fierce battle with France – splits on the course shifting the balance as both crews fought for the runner-up spot.

But out front, GBR sailed serenely into the distance. By the fifth leg they'd built a 25-second lead, calm and collected comms on board suggesting they were in total control. After an uncertain start to event yesterday, the reigning SailGP Champions cruised to victory, Stuart Bithell delivering under pressure in his first final as flight controller for Great Britain.

On the final stretch, a nail-biting battle for second went down to the wire. Slingsby's crew found just enough speed to steal it from France right at the finish line.

“Absolutely incredible start to the 2026 season,” said Fletcher. “We felt on the back foot yesterday, but really proud of how the whole team came together today and delivered. And great to get the win for Parko on his home waters. There’s plenty still to work on, but we'll keep chipping away all season.”

The reigning champions have done it again. A clear statement from Emirates GBR heading into Season 6 – and they've done it with a new wing trimmer on board.

All three finalists, in fact, were racing with new wing trimmers – Leigh McMillan for France, Glenn Ashby filling in for Iain Jensen on Australia, marking his first time on an F50 this week. It's testament to the calibre of these athletes that they can slot in and perform at this level immediately.

Artemis looked like everything had clicked instantly on Saturday. Today, sadly for the Swedish start-up, it all fell apart. But for a brand new team, they're certainly one to watch this season.

Next up: Auckland, 14-15 February, for the ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix.

Race 5
1 Great Britain
2 Italy
3 Australia
4 Denmark
5 France
6 Sweden
7 Canada
8 Germany
9 USA
10 Switzerland
11 Brazil 

Race 6
1 Great Britain
2 France
3 Australia
4 Sweden
5 Switzerland
6 Canada
7 Italy
8 USA
9 Germany
10 Denmark
11 Brazil

Race 7
1 Canada
2 France
3 Australia
4 Great Britain
5 Italy
6 Denmark
7 Switzerland
8 Germany
9 USA
10 Brazil
11 Sweden

Final
1 Great Britain
2 Australia
3 France