The fifth event of Season 3 got underway with fast and furious racing on the city-side, iconic waters of Saint-Tropez, with plenty of drama, near-capsizes and crushing penalties.

It was an event of two halves, with strong winds hitting up to 45 km/h on the first day of racing resulting in all nine F50s exceeding speeds of 90 km/h.

Season 3 // Range Rover France Sail Grand Prix // France breaks speed record

But it was France that re-wrote the league’s speed racing record, hitting 99.94 km/h during the third fleet race of the Range Rover France Sail Grand Prix.

Season 3 // Range Rover France Sail Grand Prix // Great Britain 90 km/h speed

It came soon after Great Britain set a new speed record of 99 km/h in the first fleet race, while Denmark’s 94 km/h top speed was the lowest top speed of any team on Saturday.

Season 3 // Range Rover France Sail Grand Prix // Australia and New Zealand go head to head

Elsewhere, there was plenty of drama in boat on boat situations, resulting in crushing penalty points. Contact between Switzerland and the U.S. resulted in Switzerland being docked four penalty points, starting the event with -4 points, and a total deduction of two overall season points.

Season 3 // Range Rover France Sail Grand Prix // USA leads the pack

Meanwhile, contact between the United States and France in the fifth fleet race that was later abandoned saw Jimmy Spithill’s team deducted four overall season points, demoting the team’s position ahead of the Final from first to second.

Season 3 // Range Rover France Sail Grand Prix // Canada near capsize

Elsewhere, gusty conditions challenged crews, with Phil Robertson’s Canada coming close to capsizing on the finish line of the third fleet race on the first day of racing, while Nicolai Sehested’s Denmark just about righted its F50 before it tipped over completely in practice racing.

Season 3 // Range Rover France Sail Grand Prix // Great Britain leads the fleet

Elsewhere, aggressive match racing tactics from New Zealand’s Peter Burling resulted in Australia nosediving just meters from the finish line in the first fleet race, leaving the Aussie F50 floundering in the water to be passed by Great Britain, the United States and Spain.

Season 3 // Range Rover France Sail Grand Prix // Australia nosedive

The Kiwis once again dominated the opening day, claiming two fleet race wins out of three. Meanwhile Tom Slingsby’s Australia came back to claim the win in the second fleet race.

Season 3 // Range Rover France Sail Grand Prix // New Zealand with superyachts

Conditions on the second day of racing however were the polar opposite to the first, with wind speeds range between 9 km/h and 16 km/h. The fourth race was terminated early and the fifth fleet race was abandoned altogether, leaving Great Britain, New Zealand and the U.S. to battle it out in the Final.

Season 3 // Range Rover France Sail Grand Prix // New Zealand, US, GBR in Final

A costly penalty on the starting line to New Zealand and a perfectly executed gybe by the Americans saw the U.S. F50 streak out in front and cross the finish line to claim Jimmy Spithill’s first ever event win.

Season 3 // Range Rover France Sail Grand Prix // US celebrate on board F50

The reshuffling championship leaderboard now sees just point separating front runners Australia and New Zealand, while Great Britain has climbed back up to third place after being unable to compete in Copenhagen due to damage.

Season 3 // Range Rover France Sail Grand Prix // Fleet underway

The racing action resumes in under two weeks with the Spain Sail Grand Prix | Andalucía - Cádiz presented by NEAR taking place on 24-25 September.