06/09/2026
by James Pacheco
Apex Group Bermuda Sail Grand Prix: Can The BONDS Be Beaten In Bermuda?
The BONDS Flying Roos SailGP Team are dominating the betting ahead of the Apex Group Bermuda Sail Grand Prix.
They’re the 3.45 favorites to win the event and an extremely short 1.2 to make the final.
But Is It Short Enough?
After all, they’ve made three of the four finals so far this season, only missing out at the KPMG Sydney Sail Grand Prix, and they went on to win two of those finals.
Next in the betting are the Emirates Great Britain SailGP Team, who are 4.17 to win Sunday’s final and 1.49 just to make that final.
Then there’s the curious case of the Artemis SailGP Team, who, as impressive as they’ve been in their debut season in the Rolex SailGP Championship, have only made the final once so far, at the ENEL Rio Sail Grand Prix last time out, finishing third.
They’re 4.44 to win for the first time ever, almost exactly half the odds of Los Gallos SailGP Team, who are at 8.7, to win this event.
That the Aussies are strongly fancied here should come as no surprise to SailGP fans and bettors after what happened in Rio.
But that’s not the only reason why they’re favorites for both this week’s event and the Championship as a whole.
How the BONDS Flying Roos Ran Riot in Rio
The BONDS Flying Roos SailGP Team put in one of the all-time great performances in the history of the Rolex SailGP Championship at the ENEL Rio Sail Grand Prix, if not the best, by winning all three of Sunday’s fleet races and then winning the final as well, for good measure.
Here are some more details on how it all unfolded in Rio. In the process of what can only be described as a perfect performance, they became the favorites to win the 2026 Championship, at odds of 2.1, which translates to an implied probability of just 47.6%.
That’s Based on Three Major Factors
Firstly, there was that performance in Rio.
Secondly, there’s their status as the most successful team in the five previous seasons of the SailGP Championship by some distance. They won the first three editions of it and then followed that up with runner-up spots in the next two, results no one else can come close to matching.
And thirdly, if possession is 9/10 of the law, as the saying goes, being top of the Championship standings on 35 points is clearly the place to be after four events.
Who Are the Aussies’ Biggest Challengers for the Championship?
That’s seven points clear of the Emirates GBR, who are now the second-favorites to defend last year’s title at 3.0 and eight ahead of the U.S SailGP Team, who are 5.7.
That’s a testament to Americans’ impressive performances this season, which included that tactical masterclass of a win at the KPMG Sydney Sail Grand Prix in late February, their first event win in 18 months.
Let’s remember that the Americans’ best performance so far in the SailGP Championship was third in Season 2, so to be so close to the Top 2 at this stage of proceedings shows just how far they’ve come.
And Who Better to Comment on Their Progress than SailGP CEO Russell Coutts?
“I think anyone who says they expected them to come out this strong would be being economical with the truth. You’ve got to hand it to them. So far, it’s a dramatic improvement over what we’ve seen in the past.”
Los Gallos shouldn’t be ruled out either after their Rolex SailGP Championship win in Season 4. Consistency has often been the secret to their success, but so has their ability to bounce back from adversity, something not lost on Coutts:
“They’re looking very, very good, especially considering they were ruled out of the first event with a boat failure that was no fault of their own.”
Los Gallos are 11.2 to win this year’s Championship.
Why Bermuda Has Special Significance
A good performance here in Bermuda is of great significance for all of the title contenders.
The event comes just before the North American leg in New York and Halifax, so carrying momentum into those two events will be important.
And a strong showing here should give us good clues as to which teams can handle the flatter water and lighter conditions that we’re expected to get here, which is what we also had in Sydney, for future races this season.
More from Coutts, this time highlighting the variety of racing conditions so far this season and why it really adds something to the Championship:
“I like the fact that we go to strong wind and light wind venues. If it were all strong wind, it would probably become dull. The variation shakes up the competition – like clay to grass in tennis.”
What Happened Here in Great Sound In the Past?
As for past form here in Bermuda, it was Emirates GBR who won it in Season 2, beating the Australians and what was then the France SailGP Team, in the final.
Then, in 2023-45, Los Gallos won it. The Aussies contested the final in that one, too, this time with the Black Foils SailGP Team being the third team making up the podium.
So good memories for the Brits and the Spanish here in Bermuda, but they both know how hard their task will be to replicate those wins, with the BONDS Flying Roos in such great form.
Starting points for our US readers
Starting points for our UK readers
Starting points for our Global readers