SailGP: Sweden and Australia win first day of slow, light-air racing in Halifax
by SailGP Media, Edited by Sail-World. 21 Jun 00:16 BST
Day 1 - Canada Sail Grand Prix in Halifax, Canada. Saturday June 20, 2026 © Samo Vidic for SailGP
Australia and Sweden lead the fleet after a funky opening day of the Canada Sail Grand Prix, putting down early markers on Halifax Harbour.
Teams competed in two groups – two fleet races each – on the shoreline racetrack, seeded by championship standings. The two groups (of six and seven Teams) were a response to safety issues related to a large fleet sailing on a congested, small course, particularly off the start and into the Sprint Leg.
Other safety measures adopted included requiring two crew members behind the steering wheels of the boats to eliminate the visibility black spot, with the crews having good visibility to leeward.
Following a review of the forecast and course conditions, SailGP announced the use of a split fleet-format this weekend in Halifax for the Canada Sail Grand Prix. The League said: "This format helps reduce congestion on a tight racecourse, ensuring safe, competitive racing while maintaining SailGP’s high-performance racing standards."
Group A: AUS ESP FRA DEN CAN BRA NZL
Group B: GBR USA SWE GER ITA SUI
The intended Schedule was to hold six races (three per group) on Saturday and five races (two per group, with a four-boat final) on Sunday. However, under the light conditions, only two races were sailed per group, with none reaching the full race length, and time limits were triggered.
Wind strength was a lot lower than anticipated with the forecast for the first hour of racing expected to be 7-14kts, increasing to 11-20kts. In light of that forecast, the fleet was rigged with the 24mtr wingsail, and high-speed t-Foils and Rudders.
The Bonds Flying Roos (AUS) continued their dominant streak, taking the win in both Group A races. A third race was abandoned; Australia, despite foiling for the last metres, missed the finish time limit by just 3 secs on a shortened course. Switzerland claimed two podium finishes, including their first race win of the 2026 Season – a result driver Sébastien Schneiter called, “a good step forward.”
All 13 international teams battled erratic, directional wind shifts, equipped with the all-purpose 24-meter wingsail, high-speed rudders and foils to make the most of the changing breeze. Several races were abandoned or sailed on shortened courses when the expected breeze did not materialise.
The opening race of the day was abandoned when the Australians crossed the line in first just moments after the nine-minute time limit expired and race officials ordered a restart. It was a speedy redemption for the Bonds Flying Roos, who overtook New Zealand on the opening leg, claiming opening victory in race one – and this time for points.
Flying Roos driver Tom Slingsby said, “It was a tough day but we adapted as well as we could so we're happy. Every time we made a decision it went our way, so we're really happy.”
Spain's Los Gallos claimed second place with a late overtake of the Black Foils, who would go on to complete the Group A podium in third.
In Race 2, the Bonds Flying Roos once again showcased their growing strength in lighter winds, fighting back after a challenging start to claim another victory and complete the day with a perfect two-for-two scoreline.
Finishing second in race two, the Black Foils head into championship Sunday second in Group A, firmly in the hunt for their first event final in four months.
Reflecting on-shore, New Zealand driver Peter Burling said, “It's definitely super tricky to get back in, but it's awesome being back.”
With one of the championship’s hottest rivalries back on display, Burling continued, “That last race was always going to be more of a battle [with Australia]. Just a little more breeze and we definitely felt like if we had a clean exit we could have kept on the racing line and had a good chance of getting past them. But it wasn't to be. In conditions like those, we're going to see some nice close finishes like that — it was pretty hectic.”
Group B’s opening race provided the best foiling conditions of the day, with the U.S. SailGP Team flying across the line first with Emirates GBR chasing them down. It was the Explora Journeys Swiss SailGP Team however, that stole the show by leading an impressive series of overtakes to move up the fleet and claiming its first race victory of the 2026 Season.
Swiss driver Sébastien Schneiter said, “We had similar conditions in training yesterday where it was all about looking outside of the boat, so it was a good step forward for us in those conditions.
“I think it is quite good actually when the race course is on the small side. The racing is more interesting because you can play a bit more. It was a great call to go split fleets and it's good for the future as we get more and more boats, it will just make it even better.”
In the final race of the day – Group B’s second – Artemis (SWE) and Emirates GBR jockeyed for position throughout, with Artemis edging the British crew at the finish by meters to secure the win and top the group standings.
“[That finish] was closer than we wanted it to be,” said Artemis driver Nathan Outteridge, “With the British, when they split, we knew we sort of had to make the final jibe and it just got soft in that corner, but they were off the foil too … pretty solid day considering how tough the conditions were.”
It was a challenging day for the home team, NorthStar Canada, finishing sixth and fifth in today’s group races. Driver Giles Scott said: “It was a really difficult day all around but sometimes it works out like that.”
More than 6,000 ticketed fans came along to the action, plus thousands more watching along the Halifax shoreline.
“The support here from Canada and all of Halifax has been amazing for SailGP and obviously for NorthStar,” Scott said. “To look up at such an amazing grandstand as the hometown favorite is a special thing and a privilege for us.”
Racing returns tomorrow – Sunday, June 21 – beginning at 4 p.m. local time. Watch on YouTube (free) or a territorial rights broadcaster for your region.