Please select your home edition
Edition
Sea Sure 2025

High winds, speed records and drama on day one in Saint Tropez

by GBR SailGP Team 10 Sep 2022 22:24 BST 10-11 September 2022
Switzerland SailGP Team helmed by Nathan Outteridge and Great Britain SailGP Team helmed by Ben Ainslie on Race Day 1 of the Range Rover France Sail Grand Prix in Saint Tropez, France © Jon Buckle for SailGP

'Cavitating like a rocket ship re-entering the earth's atmosphere' was how Ben Ainslie described driving an F50 on day one in St. Tropez. The SailGP teams raced in some of the biggest breeze ever seen on a SailGP racetrack, as speed records fell at the Range Rover France Sail Grand Prix.

Conditions were full on with wind gusts of 55km/h+ (29kts) recorded as three races were held in front of a sell-out crowd on the French shoreline. GBR started well in race one with a solid second place, but their unlucky run hit again in the next race. Technical issues with the starboard daggerboard case led to an early retirement with the GBR shore team having to complete a quick on water fix to get the team back on the start line for the final race of the day. GBR were able to secure a hard fought fourth, a result that leaves them in fifth place overall.

Reflecting on the opening day's action Great Britain SailGP Driver and Co-owner, Ben Ainslie said:
"That was some of the best racing I've ever taken part in, at times the boat was shaking through cavitation to the point that I'd imagine it was what it feels like being in a rocket re-entering the earth's atmosphere, all the teams were pushing the limit it was very cool.

Talking about the race retirement and subsequent gear failure. "The damage in race two is likely related to the issue we had in Denmark; it was the same daggerboard. Credit to the shore team for the on-water fix to get us back racing and we now have a late night ahead to make sure it's ok for tomorrow.

"You could say we were unlucky today but in high-performance sport you have to make your own luck and that is what we have to do tomorrow. We are sailing well, and we need to do that again to secure our place into that final three sail off."

R1

GBR made the perfect start hitting the line on the gun, leading the fleet at mark one. Unforced errors dropped the team back to third at the final turning mark, but GBR continued to push hard, finishing second after a luff from the NZL team caused AUS to nosedive on the final reach. That final run to the line saw the British team beat the SailGP speed record with 99.02 km/h, a record that wouldn't last long.

R2

Heading into the second race, the team were unable to lift the starboard foil in the pre-start and crossed the line in last place (9th), the fightback was on and GBR threaded the needle to climb up to fourth place. However, this was cut short after a failure in the starboard daggerboard casing, which meant the team could not move the foil up and down. This led to a race retirement as the team raced to make repairs ahead of the final race of the day.

R3

The team asked for a delay to the start of race 3 to allow their shore a team to make an on-water fix, with 3 minutes to go the repair was made, and GBR were ready to race. A safe start saw the team mid fleet. Problems continued throughout the race, but the team were able to finish fourth. The final race saw the French Team beat GBR' s short-lived SailGP Speed record as they reached 99.94KM/H (53.96 kts) in front of their home crowd.

The British team sit fifth on the leaderboard, two points behind third placed Australia. British fans can watch the final day of racing at the Range Rover France Sail Grand Prix in Saint-Tropez live on Sky Sports from 2 PM BST on Sunday, September 12, or free to view on SailGP's YouTube channel.

Related Articles

Emirates GBR hoping to repeat Saint-Tropez success
In 'wild' conditions ROCKWOOL France Sail Grand Prix The Emirates Great Britain SailGP Team is hoping to repeat last season's success in Saint-Tropez at the ROCKWOOL France Sail Grand Prix this Friday and Saturday. Posted on 11 Sep
Jon Holt's surprise F50 ride
Emirates GBR SailGP Team take London schoolteacher out for a spin Sir Ben Ainslie's Emirates Great Britain Sail Grand Prix Team and BBC's The One Show teamed up to surprise a London schoolteacher with a once-in-a-lifetime experience on-board their F50 race boat. Posted on 5 Sep
Like a Phoenix from the Ashes, Emirates GBR Rise
Securing a podium spot in Sassnitz The final day of the Germany Sail Grand Prix came after a long night of repairs, as the SailGP Tech Team and the Emirates GBR shore crew worked against the clock to fix the British F50. The boat had suffered a large hole in the port hull. Posted on 17 Aug
Race Against Time After USA Collide With GBR
Tech Team working overnight on repairs in a bid to have Emirates GBR ready to race Emirates GBR face a race against time to be ready for the second day of the inaugural Germany Sail Grand Prix, after Taylor Canfield's USA SailGP Team collided with their F50 race boat in a port-starboard, mid-fleet incident. Posted on 16 Aug
Emirates GBR preparing to bring their A-Game
For SailGP's Germany debut this weekend Following a successful home event in Portsmouth last month, Emirates GBR is back in action this weekend at the Germany Sail Grand Prix in Sassnitz. The event marks the Rolex SailGP Championship's debut in Germany. Posted on 15 Aug
Emirates GBR secures podium result
In front of sell-out crowd in Portsmouth The Emirates Great Britain SailGP Team has secured its fourth podium result of the 2025 Season in front of a sell-out crowd at its home event in Portsmouth. Posted on 20 Jul
Emirates GBR top the leaderboard
On day one of the Emirates Great Britain Sail Grand Prix Home team Emirates GBR is top of the leaderboard after day one of the Emirates Great Britain Sail Grand Prix in Portsmouth. The British crew, driven by Olympic gold medallist Dylan Fletcher, delighted the 10,000 fans on Southsea Common. Posted on 19 Jul
Mark Wright & Jamie Redknapp sail the F50
Joining the Emirates GBR SailGP Team on-board ahead of the Portsmouth SailGP event Mark Wright and Jamie Redknapp joined Emirates GBR on-board the team's F50 race boat ahead of the Emirates Great Britain Sail Grand Prix in Portsmouth this weekend. Posted on 19 Jul
Emirates GBR ready for battle
As SailGP's fast and furious racing returns to UK shores this weekend The Emirates Great Britain Sail Grand Prix takes place in Portsmouth on 19/20 July, with 20,000 fans expected to line the shore at Southsea Common to witness 12 national teams compete in identical foiling 50ft catamarans. Posted on 17 Jul
Sir Ben Ainslie's SailGP team lands in London
Countdown to Emirates Great Britain Sail Grand Prix | Portsmouth begins With just one month to go until SailGP returns to UK shores, Sir Ben Ainslie's Emirates Great Britain SailGP Team, including Dylan Fletcher MBE, Hannah Mills OBE and Ellie Aldridge MBE, brought a taste of the action to the capital. Posted on 19 Jun