ROCKWOOL Denmark SailGP Team secured a third placed finish at the ROCKWOOL Canada Sail Grand Prix, as SailGP champions Australia capsized in dramatic fashion just metres from the Halifax waterfront in the final fleet race of the weekend.
Having made the event final, the Danes started strongly, fighting it out with France and eventual winners Great Britain, but were unable to battle to the front – taking a P3 in SailGP’s first ever Canadian event.
The result leaves ROCKWOOL Denmark six points off the all-important top three in the overall Season 4 standings, a point closer to Spain SailGP Team than before the event.
“We can’t really complain with a third place, but we are a bit disappointed, as we wanted to put more places between us and Spain,” admits Nicolai Sehested.
“However, we have two more chances to catch the top three, starting in New York in just a few weeks. We will be ready.”
On the conditions in Halifax – which saw two teams, Switzerland and United States, unable to race on Day 2 due to an inability to crane the boats into the water before racing, he added: “It was tricky out there. Today was a real battle, and we made a few mistakes, but I’m proud of the team for booking our spot in the final and grinding out a result when many other teams struggled.”
In strong and blustery breeze, there were dramatic scenes in the fleet – with Australia suffering a capsize in Race 5 that cost them a potential spot in the final.
It was Emirates GBR who took the victory, giving new driver Giles Scott his first event win since taking over from Ben Ainslie earlier this season.
The fleet will now head to New York City on 22-23 June in the penultimate event of SailGP Season 4.
