SailGP Rivalries Set to Ignite in Halifax as Fleet Draws Closer to $2 Million Season 4 Grand Final
For the first time in SailGP history, the ten national teams will compete on the waters of Halifax for the ROCKWOOL Canada Sail Grand Prix this weekend, June 1-2. This event marks the eleventh stop on SailGP’s largest calendar to date, featuring thirteen events across North America, EMEA, and APAC. With only two events left before the $2 million Season 4 Grand Final in San Francisco on July 13-14, the pressure is on for all teams.
Spotlight on the Home Team
Phil Robertson and the Canada SailGP Team will be competing on home waters for the first time. Halifax is eagerly hosting the event, with numerous activities leading up to a highly anticipated weekend of racing. High winds are expected, promising an exciting spectacle for a sold-out crowd.
Competing on home waters has historically given teams an edge, as seen with Tom Slingsby’s Australia SailGP Team in Sydney and Peter Burling’s New Zealand Black Foils in Christchurch. Robertson is hopeful that racing in front of a home crowd will secure Canada’s first Season 4 event win.
Challenges and Controversies
Taylor Canfield and the United States SailGP Team faced a significant setback after a dramatic capsize in Bermuda due to a wing-trimmer error. While the crew only sustained minor injuries, the damage to their F50 was substantial, preventing them from competing. Thanks to the SailGP Tech Team, the USA will be back in action this weekend.
Canfield remains optimistic: “We’re pushing hard to have an all-American team. With more events and training, we will continue raising the bar.”
The USA team’s lack of penalty points for the Bermuda capsize has sparked controversy. Slingsby commented on the inconsistency in penalties: “They pressed a wrong button and incurred serious damage but received zero penalty points. Consistency in rules is crucial.”
Spanish Success and Future Uncertainties
Diego Botin’s Spanish team, Los Gallos, secured a spectacular win in Bermuda, their second event win of the season. Now in third place on the overall leaderboard, Spain aims to solidify their position for the Grand Final. However, the team faces uncertainty about its future in Season 5 without a buyer, a concern shared by France, Canada, and New Zealand.
Quentin Delapierre, driver of France SailGP Team, emphasized the importance of remaining in the league: “I want the French to stay in this league. We strive to show our value and ambition.”
The Heavyweight Rivalry
Peter Burling and the New Zealand Black Foils lead the Season 4 leaderboard, with reigning champions Australia trailing ten points behind. The rivalry between these top teams is intense, with both Burling and Slingsby determined to come out on top.
Slingsby remarked: “Staying on top is tough. We’ve had one bad event in Christchurch, but without that, we’d still be leading. We’ve had a great season with eight podiums in ten events. For the first time, we feel like the hunters, and we love it.”
Impact League and Environmental Initiatives
The ten national teams compete in the Impact League, tracking positive actions to reduce their carbon footprint and promote inclusivity in sailing. A panel of sustainability and sport experts recently voted the ROCKWOOL Denmark SailGP Team as the winner in the focus area of Climate Action for their innovative seagrass re-planting mission.
Sehested of ROCKWOOL Denmark commented: “We’re excited to win this initiative. Engaging all teams in the seagrass project has been great. We’re happy with our success.”
Upcoming Event Details
The ROCKWOOL Canada Sail Grand Prix begins on Saturday, June 1, with live racing between 4-5.30pm ADT on both days. For details on how to watch globally, visit SailGP.com/Watch.
ROCKWOOL CANADA SAIL GRAND PRIX SCHEDULE
Day One Racing: Saturday, June 1, 4.00 p.m. – 5.30 p.m. ADT
Day Two Racing: Sunday, June 2, 5.00 p.m. – 5.30 p.m. ADT
SAILGP SEASON 4 CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS (after ten events)
- New Zealand 77 points
- Australia 67 points
- Spain 65 points
- ROCKWOOL Denmark 56 points
- France 56 points
- Canada 53 points
- United States 49 points
- Emirates GBR 48 points
- Germany 32 points
- Switzerland 26 points
Season Penalties
- Australia SailGP Team: docked eight points in Season Championship for a 12-point penalty at ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix | Christchurch
- Canada SailGP Team: docked four points in Season Championship for an eight-point penalty at France Sail Grand Prix | Saint-Tropez
- Emirates Great Britain: docked four points in Season Championship for an eight-point penalty at ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix | Christchurch
- Germany SailGP Team: docked two points in Season Championship for a four-point penalty at Oracle Los Angeles Sail Grand Prix
- New Zealand SailGP Team: unable to compete in Taranto due to structural failure of the wingsail at France Sail Grand Prix | Saint-Tropez
- ROCKWOOL Denmark: docked four points in Season Championship for an eight-point penalty at ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix | Christchurch
- Spain SailGP Team: docked two points in Season Championship for a four-point penalty at Spain Sail Grand Prix | Andalucía – Cádiz
SAILGP SEASON 4 IMPACT LEAGUE STANDINGS
- ROCKWOOL Denmark // 454 points
- Switzerland // 432 points
- Emirates Great Britain // 420 points
- France // 411 points
- Australia // 404 points
- New Zealand // 390 points
- Germany // 385 points
- United States // 381 points
- Canada // 369 points
- Spain // 341 points
Day 1 Racing in Full
Two days of action-packed and boundary-breaking racing will take place in the Nova Scotian capital, with SailGP’s ten national teams going head-to-head for glory in Canada for the first time ever. Following three opening fleet races on Saturday, June 1, there will be further racing on Sunday, June 2 to determine the three Finalists who will proceed into the winner-takes-all, three-boat Final.
Canada Driver Phil Robertson: “We have three events and we’re in the hunt. We’re coming into the pointy end of the season and if you’ve still got a sniff then you’re in a happy place. All the teams which have raced in their home venues tend to step it up a level that week and we’re of the opinion that it’s going to be the same for us. We’re going to have a huge amount of supporters backing us there and I think the crowd numbers are going to blow SailGP’s minds.”
About SailGP
SailGP is grand prix racing like you’ve never seen before. The world’s most exciting race on water, where anything can happen in short, adrenaline-fueled battles between national teams at iconic stadium venues worldwide. Top athletes fly identical, high-tech F50 boats faster than the wind at speeds approaching 100 km/h – in a championship that’s powered by nature and races for a better future. Visit SailGP.com to find out more.
