The SailGP hydrofoiling race in New York this past weekend saw the Spanish team, led by Diego Botin, claim their second consecutive victory of the season, maintaining their position at the top of the 2025 Season standings. Foiling event culminated in a strong performance by Spain in the final race on the Hudson, where they outmaneuvered New Zealand and France.
Day 1: Fickle Conditions and Spanish Consistency
Day 1 of the foiling Mubadala New York Sail Grand Prix was characterized by light and unpredictable winds, coupled with a strong current on the Hudson River. These challenging conditions necessitated a reduced three-fleet race schedule and saw teams adapting to a three-person crew configuration in the opening race to minimize weight. Spain, led by Diego Botin, quickly established their authority, finishing atop the leaderboard after three races with a comfortable five-point lead. They demonstrated excellent starts, particularly in the first race where they blasted over the line and maintained a significant lead to finish 14 seconds ahead of New Zealand.
The day also saw other teams grappling with the difficult conditions. In the second fleet race, the BONDS Flying Roos (Australia) secured a win, narrowly avoiding a collision with Mubadala Brazil but still receiving a penalty. New Zealand’s Black Foils, despite a mixed day that included an 11th place finish in race two, showcased their potential by remarkably lapping the entire F50 fleet in the third and final race of the dayโa first in SailGP history. This feat was achieved as the rest of the fleet struggled with dropping wind, highlighting the Kiwis’ masterful sailing and foil control. At the close of Day 1, Spain held 25 points, followed by ROCKWOOL Denmark and France, both with 20 points, and New Zealand with 19.
Day 2: Stronger Breezes and a Thrilling Final
Day 2 brought improved conditions, with stronger breezes (around 15 knots, gusting to 35 km/h) that allowed the F50 fleet to foil with greater ease. Despite the clearer skies, the light air L-foils used from Day 1 continued to prove challenging for some flight controllers, leading to occasional loss of foiling. Three further qualifying races were held before the winner-takes-all final.
Race 4 saw an historic moment as Mubadala Brazil, led by Martine Grael, secured their first-ever SailGP fleet race victory, fending off a strong charge from Spain. Race 5 was dominated by France, who executed a textbook performance to take a clean win, while New Zealand maintained good pace to finish second. The final fleet race (Race 6) was a high-drama affair, with Australia clinching a morale-boosting win and several teams vying for a spot in the final. Spain, despite a mixed performance earlier in the day that saw them briefly outside the final three, managed to secure their place.
The Grand Final featured Spain, New Zealand, and France. Spain made a sharp start, winning the race to Mark 1 and establishing an early lead. They leveraged favorable pressure on the right-hand side of the course, building a substantial advantage. While New Zealand initially matched Spain’s speed, a critical error at the fifth mark, where their boat slammed into the chop and lost momentum, cost them dearly. Spain capitalized on this, rocketing ahead to claim a comfortable victory. New Zealand managed to hold off a late charge from France to secure second place, with France finishing third. Spain’s win marked their second consecutive event victory and propelled them to the top of the 2025 Season leaderboard.
Despite challenging conditions on the second day, which included gusty winds and choppy seas, Spain showcased exceptional boat handling and strategic prowess. They secured a commanding lead from the start of the final race, maintaining it throughout and ultimately winning by a significant margin. New Zealand finished second, with France securing their second consecutive podium finish in third place.
The New York event also featured other notable performances, such as Brazil achieving their first fleet race win since joining SailGP. Australia, however, faced difficulties, finishing 11th in one of the races, which hindered their chances of reaching the final. The improved breezes on Sunday allowed the F50 fleet to foil with ease, though the light air foils presented challenges for some teams. Overall, Spain’s consistent performance throughout the weekend, despite a mixed scorecard in the lead-up races, highlights their strength and determination in the SailGP circuit.
Read more about this race and learn more about SailGP at https://sailgp.com/races/24-25/new-york-sail-grand-prix/results
