SailGP: Emirates GBR snatches lead to win Final
by Richard Gladwell, Sail-World NZ 9 Feb 2025 05:31 GMT
Emirates GBR win the Final - Race Day 2 - KPMG Australia Sail Grand Prix - Sydney, Australia - February 9, 2025 © Ricardo Pinto/SailGP
Emirates GBR SailGP team, helmed by America's Cup co-helm, Dylan Fletcher staged a come from behind win to win the Final of Event 3 in KPMG Australia SailGP, sailed on Sydney Harbour.
Sir Ben Ainslie had the best news after a torrid few weeks, when his team made a bold move on the penultimate leg to move through Northstar Canada, helmed by double Olympic Gold medalist Giles Scott.
"We've had an amazing day today," Scott said from on the water immediately after the race finish. "We're super happy with second place. But I'm sitting here right now with a few 'what-ifs'. We were in a great spot with an amazingly good lead. The Brits did a nice job of picking up a big shift on that right hand side. That was it for us. We're just happy to get on the podium today for the fist time, as a squad."
A lot of the credit for the Emirates GBR win must go to strategist Hannah Mills, also a double Olympic Gold medalist. She made the call to take the right hand gate, after the Canadians had taken the left. On the split tacks, the Brits were sailing visibly higher heading for the back of Shark Island, and when the Canadians tacked to cover the British move, they were close to pointing up the Brits' transom. It was a big turn around in a short space of time from the mark rounding.
Mills also made an excellent call getting the layline to the Gate 5 perfectly lined up, allowing Fletcher to tack below the Canadians lateline, and squeeze around Shark Island and then Mark 5, without having to make another tack. Despite the Canadians trying to sail a lower faster angle, Fletcher was able to stay ahead, only having to make a critical gybe before heading for the finish and taking the Event win.