The third leg of Season 4 saw the 10-strong F50 fleet race against the glamorous backdrop of Saint-Tropez for the third consecutive season. We round up the best photos from the event.
Peter Burling’s New Zealand hit the water with intention, picking up the first race win of the event. But a dramatic incident saw the Canadian and Spanish teams collide in the same race - with Phil Robertson’s Canada penalized for failing to keep clear.
Season 3 champions Australia dominated the second fleet race with an effortless win in front of packed crowds, while home favorites France crossed the line in second. The United States won the third and final fleet race of the day, and the day ended with ROCKWOOL DEN and the Kiwis at the top of the leaderboard, tied on points.
But disaster struck just minutes after racing ended, with New Zealand’s 29m wing dramatically collapsing. Luckily, no athletes were hurt but the significant damage and lack of spare parts ruled the Kiwis out of racing on Race Day 2.
Higher winds and a congested leaderboard saw teams go head to head as the second day of Saint-Tropez got underway, with Ben Ainslie’s Emirates GBR picking up the win in the fourth fleet race.
Slingsby’s Australia meanwhile converted a commanding race start into its second race win of the event in the fifth fleet race - and saw Emirates GBR, Australia and LA winners Spain progress into the three-boat Final showdown.
A disastrous mistake in the final minutes of the fifth fleet race meanwhile saw Nicolai Sehested’s ROCKWOOL DEN miss out on a place in the Final by just one point.
Agressive starting tactics by both Emirates GBR and Australia left Spain trailing as the Final got underway, but the Aussies held the all-important inside line to Mark 1.
While Australia led for much of the race, the two teams split at the start of leg 5, with British strategist Hannah Mills spotting the wind shifts.
From there on in, Emirates GBR minimized maneuvers and dramatically luffed the Aussies to pass them on the approach to the finish line.
As the Brits crossed the finish line, they ended a long-running win drought - securing their first event win title since Season 2.
The F50 fleet will next meet at the ROCKWOOL Italy Sail Grand Prix | Taranto on September 23-24.
