Day two of the Spanish Grand Prix in Valencia began with a delay as the forecast breeze failed to arrive. With conditions remaining light, the Race Committee shortened the course and reduced the planned four fleet races to just two, followed by the Event Final.
That meant everything came down to a single race for each fleet group, with the top two teams from each securing their place in the Event Final.
Emirates GBR started the day third in Group A, with their sights firmly set on breaking into the top two. In the light conditions, getting around Mark 1 in the lead and staying on the foils was crucial. Once ahead, teams could build an almost unassailable advantage. As SailGP commentator Todd Harris described it, it was “like shopping on New Year’s Eve with no one else in the store.”
In Group B, the United States SailGP Team took the race win, while home favourites Spain endured a difficult start that left them at the back of the fleet. Unable to make significant progress, Spain finished sixth and dropped to third overall, missing out on the Event Final despite having won two of the group’s four races. Denmark joined the USA in qualifying for the final.
Red Bull Italy led the fleet to the first mark, with Artemis and Emirates GBR battling behind. GBR eventually closed the gap to Artemis, but both boats fell off the foils, allowing New Zealand’s Black Foils through and giving Italy the opportunity to extend their advantage at the front.
Then came a spectacular fightback from Emirates GBR. The British team found the speed to get back onto the foils, passing Artemis down the run before working their way past New Zealand and into second place. With Australia down in fifth, that position put Emirates GBR back in contention for a place in the Event Final.
Italy continued to stretch their lead and went on to take the race win, with Emirates GBR crossing the line second. The British team then faced an anxious wait to see where Australia would finish.
The final mark provided another dramatic twist. Artemis split from Australia and took the left-hand side, forcing the Swedish team to complete two manoeuvres before making the final run to the finish. The decision did not pay off, allowing Australia to finish ahead of Artemis and secure their place in the Event Final.
Despite the disappointment, the team produced an impressive recovery from their starting penalty, fighting their way through the fleet in extremely challenging light-air conditions to finish second when it mattered most.
In the Event Final, the United States SailGP Team took an impressive victory, beating Australia, Denmark and Italy in an enthralling four-boat race.
The Valencia result sees Emirates GBR drop to fifth overall in the Season Championship standings, but importantly the team gained ground on the top three as the battle to reach the winner-takes-all Grand Final intensifies.
Emirates GBR Driver Dylan Fletcher said: “It was a really good day for us. With only one race, we knew we had to push hard and perhaps we pushed a little too hard at the start, but the way the team responded was impressive. We stepped up, sailed the boat really well and fought our way back through the fleet. Ultimately, we didn’t quite get it done, which is frustrating, but there are a lot of positives to take from how we sailed.
“We stepped up, sailed the boat really well and fought our way back through the fleet. Ultimately, we didn’t quite get it done, which is frustrating, but there are a lot of positives to take from how we sailed.
“We’ve dropped a place in the overall standings, but the reality is we’re now closer on points to the top three and that all-important place in the end-of-season Grand Final.
“From here on in, it’s going to be a huge fight to secure that spot. The fleet is incredibly close and so much can change from one event to another. We’re right in the fight and we’re going to give it absolutely everything.”
Next up, SailGP heads to Geneva on 19–20 September for the second Rolex Switzerland Sail Grand Prix.
