SailGP Grand Final: Black Foils miss out in three-boat shootout for $3.2 million
In a season where everything comes down to a one-off race to find a victor, prior performance counts for nothing.
In San Francisco this weekend, the Black Foils saw their season of SailGP dominance slip to a third-place finish in the final.
In the race for $3.2 million, the New Zealand team were on the back foot from the start, trailing at mark one and having to try and fight their way back; a fruitless task as Spain and Australia positioned themselves well on the race course to ride the best of the wind.
In a real underdogs story, it was Spain – last season’s bottom team – who claimed the season title. A team who might consider themselves lucky to have even made the final, they stayed clear of the other two teams in the starting box before powering over the top of them to lead at the first mark – ultimately having to make just five manoeuvres in the race.
It was a disappointing way for things to end for the Black Foils. The Kiwi crew had already qualified for the Grand Final race before the San Francisco event, so results in the five fleet races weren’t necessary and it was a matter of simply protecting their boat and learning the race course.
Australia were in a similar position, earning their place in the big race – with Spain clinging on to fill the top three out, helped by the French going too aggressively into the final turn of fleet race four and damaging their boat. At that point, France could have knocked Spain out of the final, but they were ruled out of the rest of the regatta due to a damaged rudder.
Had France not made that mistake, they were looking likely to beat Spain out for a spot in the Grand Final.
It was the three-time defending champions Australia who went into the final with the momentum, having sailed the best of the three in fleet racing and appearing to have a handle on how best to navigate the race course where they have won the last three titles.
The start of the six-leg Grand Final was slightly delayed as the Black Foils battled some mechanical issues, and it was level when the three boats did get started.
Spain led things at the first marker, managed to fight off the Australians and New Zealand, and crossed for a remarkable win, capping off a massive day for Spanish sport.
For the Black Foils, it was the final turn in a rollercoaster of a season.
They kicked things off in the best way possible with an event win in the season-opener in Chicago, way back in June 2023. It was the first of five event wins for the Kiwi crew in the 12 regattas prior to San Francisco, while they made the podium race in two other stops.
It was those kinds of performances that saw them head into San Francisco with a 15-point lead on the overall standings for the season; locking them into first place and pocketing the $573,000 prize as the top qualifying team for the Grand Final – the only ones to be going into the final event already with a spot in the three-boat, $3.2m shootout.
That lead was amplified by the Australians being docked eight league points for running into a marker and badly damaging their boat during the event in Christchurch, but was a reflection of how consistent the New Zealand team have been this season.
That all came after disaster at the start of the European leg of the series, when their wingsail collapsed while they were bringing their boat back in following the opening day’s race in France, the season’s third regatta.
That ruled them out of that event, as well as the following one in Italy as the league was unable to have their boat repaired in time. SailGP did award the Kiwis fifth place for Italy, given they couldn’t compete because the league didn’t have the spare parts readily available, but the Black Foils felt they could have earned more had they been allowed to sail, given the success they had already had during the season.
They followed up being unable to sail with top-four finishes in the next five regattas – with three event wins, one third place and one fourth place. Since Italy, the Black Foils’ worst finish was their fifth in Canada last month.
But such is the format of SailGP, there’s only one race in the season that teams firmly set their targets on – and the Black Foils came up short.
Cameron McMillan
Thanks for joining the coverage. I'm Cameron McMillan signing off. You can read Christopher Reive's report of today's action above.
Cameron McMillan
Big fight for the backpage of sport sections across Spain tomorrow.
Cameron McMillan
Well no one expected that. Australia and New Zealand were all worried about each other in the pre-start and Spain had a free look at the first mark. They took the lead and didn't give it up holding off the Aussies.
Cameron McMillan
They got back on the foils and just held off Australia. Poor showing from New Zealand. Not a great start and had to gamble on the final downwind leg which didn't work.
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SPAIN WIN!
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Is the door open for Australia?
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They come off the foils though.
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What a day for Spain. A Wimbledon win. A Euro title and looking to be a SailGP Finale win!
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Australia have technical issue and may have gifted the win to Spain.
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Spain lead at the bottom mark for the last time. Australia right behind them. New Zealand well back in third. Can't see them getting the win from here.
Cameron McMillan
Doesn't look like the gamble worked for New Zealand. They remain some way back in last. Australia hunting down the Spanish.
Cameron McMillan
New Zealand is last so they go the opposite side of the course of Spain and Australia. They had to take the gamble.
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Australia and Spain battling along the shoreline. New Zealand out on their own but sitting in last.
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New Zealand now drop to third again as Spain continue to hold the lead.
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Spain lead by 100m over New Zealand.
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New Zealand move into second on leg three of six.
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Spain lead at the second mark. New Zealand in third but make a great turn at the mark.
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Australia forced off the course to avoid a chase boat. Spain hold the lead with New Zealand second downwind.
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Then Australia and New Zealand.
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They all hit the line in time. It's a drag race and Spain lead at mark one.
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The get into the pre-start. One minute to go. Burling into the box last.
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Australian driver Tom Slingsby predicting that New Zealand will sit behind them in the pre-start.
Start is delayed as New Zealand deal with a technical issue.
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So here we go. The three teams enter the pre-start.
Five minutes to the finale
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Plenty of wind out there in San Francisco. New Zealand making a few changes to their set-up.
SailGP finale
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So it's Australia v New Zealand v Spain. The Aussies probably go in as the favourites after such a strong day so far.
"We've been pushing the boat to the edge all weekend. We're fairly comfortable," says Peter Burling.
Cameron McMillan
So Australia make it two from two today. Now onto the big one. The US$2m grand finale. Australia have won it the last three years. Can New Zealand or Spain deny them from making it four in a row?
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Messy sailing from New Zealand as they splash down and sit in eighth. Australia take out the win and all the confidence into the finale in less than 20 mins.
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New Zealand remain is last place. Not the ideal prep for the looming final while Australia have looked great today. On their way to a second win.
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Gate 2
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Australia still lead. Denmark and Canada follow. New Zealand are back in last.
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Australia with another great start while Burling makes his second straight poor start. Australia lead it out around the first mark.
Fleet race 5
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Final fleet race of the season about to get underway. Australia and New Zealand will just want to avoid any contact.
France are out
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They won't be racing in the last fleet race plus they've been hit with eight penalty points. So what a day for Spain! They look to be in the grand finale with New Zealand and Australia.
Cameron McMillan
It could have been worse with France pulling out after touching Denmark on the last mark but France must have taken damage as they barely got over the finish line. Spain in the box seat now for one fleet race to go.
France after colliding with Denmark
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Australia win race 4
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France have snapped their rudder and probably won't be able to make the next race. So looking good for Spain in terms have making the final.
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France eventually finish ninth.
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Spain crash into Denmark.
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Australia win and lock-up their spot in the final. Canada second.
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Australia still lead against Gate 4. Then Canada and France have moved all the way to third.
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Australia way out in front. Good form ahead of the finale.
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Australia hit the lead as NZ fall back to fifth.
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Germany almost tip over.
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Strange start for France (ninth) and Spain (last). Canada lead round mark 2. Then Australia and New Zealand.
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No sign for France or Spain as Burling and New Zealand hit the mark right on time. Canada lead at mark one. Spain are way at the back.
Fleet race 4 about to get underway
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All eyes on France and Spain.
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Australia are all but in. France, Spain and Great Britain are battling for the final spot in the final.
Already in the final
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Going into the regatta, the Black Foils already claimed their place in the three-boat shootout for the $3.2 million prize. They'll just want to stay out of trouble in the upcoming fleet races to decide who they race in the final.
SailGP finale
Cameron McMillan
- Three-boat grand finale scheduled for a 10.35am start.
- New Zealand, Australia and Spain to race in final for US$2m winner-take-all.
- Australia take form in having won two fleet races today.
Christopher Reive joined the Herald sports team in 2017, bringing the same versatility to his coverage as he does to his sports viewing habits.