Aussies back on top of the season leaderboard after nail-biting Podium Final in Germany
by BONDS Flying Roos 17 Aug 2025 23:31 BST
16-17 August 2025
BONDS Flying Roos SailGP Team helmed by Tom Slingsby in action on Race Day 2 of the Germany Sail Grand Prix in Sassnitz, Germany © Felix Diemer for SailGP
The BONDS Flying Roos have reclaimed top spot on the overall season leaderboard after a hard-fought second place finish in a gripping Podium Final against Great Britain and France.
The Aussies dominated all weekend, delivering a podium result in all but one of the seven qualifying fleet races, to enter the winner-takes-all Podium final as the top team on event points.
Tom Slingsby's Australian crew showcased their renowned resilience and hunting tactics, clawing back from 3rd after a challenging start to take down the British, sitting in 2nd place in the 5th leg of the race. That set up a nail-biting sprint to the finish line against France, with the Aussies pushing them all the way before ultimately crossing in second, securing their third podium of the 2025 SailGP Season.
Speaking after the Bonds Flying Roos Final, Driver, CEO & Co-owner Tom Slingsby said: "It was a tough day to predict but it felt good to get back into the Final. We enjoyed it, and had a lot of fun out there."
"Since the wing collapsed in San Francisco, we feel like we haven't been able to get back in there so this weekend, we're really glad with how we sailed. A big thanks to Sassnitz and Germany for putting it on," he added.
Their dominant results sees the Aussies soar to the top-dog position of the 2025 Season leaderboard on 61 points, with fierce rivals the Black Foils in 2nd place on equal points, with Emirates GBR in 3rd place on 58 points.
BONDS Flying Roos Strategist Tash Bryant shared the same sentiment as Slingsby, saying: "There were moments of frustrations today but the team dealt with it really well. We just kept building and looking for the next best thing. In the Final, we had an unfortunate starting situation but we never gave up and kept fighting until the end. It was anyone's game the whole time, and I'm really proud of everyone on the team."
The Australians sit in a strong position, with only three events remaining before the Abu Dhabi Grand Final in November.
The BONDS Flying Roos will aim to extend their lead when the fleet touches down in St Tropez for the ROCKWOOL France Sail Grand Prix, taking place on 12-13 September.