05/12/2026
by James Pacheco
Only two races took place at the ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix | Auckland on Saturday after a nasty collision between the Black Foils SailGP Team and the DS Automobiles SailGP Team France in Race 3, which saw two athletes – one from each of the two teams involved in the incident – require medical assistance ashore.
With the safety of the athlete always the top priority of the Rolex SailGP Championship, racing was abandoned for the day. It will resume on Sunday.
What Happened in Race 1?
The BONDS Flying Roos Sail GP Team took Race 1 in windy conditions in Auckland, building on a strong runner-up spot at the Oracle Perth Sail Grand Prix presented by KPMG, last month.
As highlighted in our event preview, although anyone can win any race or event on their day in the world of SailGP, the bookies know that although all teams are equal in that they all race the same F50s, some are more equal than others.
The BONDS Flying Roos were the 4.33-second favorites to win the Auckland event and also the 5.63-second favorites to win Race 1. In both cases, they were just behind the Emirates Great Britain SailGP Team in the betting, and the Aussies justified their status thanks to hitting the front after five of the eight legs, and not looking back.
DS Automobiles SailGP Team France, who were so consistent in the season opener in Perth, took second. The Black Foils were third, to claim their first points of the season after a crash in Australia last month limited them to starting just the first race.
Black Foils Win Race 2 in Front of Their Home Fans
There was more joy for Peter Burling and his crew as they won the second race of the day after taking the lead early on and closing the deal with the minimum of fuss.
Runners-up were the Emirates GBR, but only after the Los Gallos SailGP Team were penalised for not giving room to Artemis at the final mark.
Not only did it cost Los Gallos, who were relegated to sixth, but it also cost the Artemis SailGP Team, who fell off the foils as a result of the infringement and dropped to fifth.
DS Automobiles SailGP Team France, who have made a habit of securing podium finishes this season, were third.
Crash in Race 3 Ends Racing For the Day
Sadly, that was the last set of results for the day because a collision between the Black Foils and the DS Automobiles SailGP Team France led to the abandonment of racing for the day.
There will be the usual three fleet races on Sunday, and the final will be contested based on Saturday’s two race results and the three on Sunday.
However, the two teams involved in the collision will not be able to race on Sunday, as their F50s are too damaged to take to the water.
Emirates GBR Second Favorites for Auckland Win
As we said already, Emirates GBR were the favorites to win the Auckland event, but they’ve been relegated to the status of second favorites now.
Despite finishing just 11th in Race 1, Dylan Fletcher’s runner-up spot in Race 2 meant they moved up to fifth in the standings going into Sunday’s action.
But, of course, that’s only half the story. DS Automobiles SailGP Team France is top of the standings, and the Black Foils are fourth, but with both ruled out for the remainder of the event, Emirates GBR are effectively in third position.
They’re 3.46 to win Sunday’s final, with the BONDS Flying Roos the jollies at 2.88.
The Aussies are currently second, but in effect, they’re top, with the DS Automobiles SailGP Team France, the current leaders, taking no further part in this event.
For the record, if there’s no racing tomorrow, then the DS Automobiles SailGP Team France would win the event as the current leaders of it after Day 1, but that’s a highly unlikely scenario.
Looking at the other teams, Los Gallos are available at 5.39, followed by Artemis at 5.8.
Artemis Could Claim First-Ever Event Win on Sunday
The Swedes were highlighted as a good value bet in our second pre-event preview, as both lively contenders for the event win at 13.0 and also at 3.89 to just make the final; so if you backed them on either market, you’re sitting on a good wager.
They’re currently 5.8 for the event win and 2.14 to be in Sunday’s final.
No surprise as to who can take Sunday’s opening race. The Brits are 4.0, the Aussies are 4.54, and the Swedes are 5.86.
As we know, we’ll be two teams short when the action gets underway on Sunday, but it’s all to play for the remaining teams.
Starting points for our US readers
Starting points for our UK readers
Starting points for our Global readers
SailGP at Prediction Market Sites