Emirates Great Britain claimed victory at the Oracle Perth Sail Grand Prix, presented by KPMG, to open the 2026 SailGP season. The British team led a dramatic day in Fremantle with harsh wind and waves.
Emirates GBR beat the Bonds Flying Roos into second and DS Team France into third in the Final. Conditions featured steep seas and gusts up to 45 km/h. Driver Dylan Fletcher said the conditions were “absolutely incredible. This is why we came to Perth… To Fremantle, for the Doctor.”
Emirates GBR executed a perfect start in the Final. A pre‑start boundary penalty pushed the Bonds Flying Roos back. Fletcher stayed ahead, sailing clean and building a clear lead to the finish.
DS Team France’s strategy broke down on the penultimate leg. A split move by Quentin Delapierre failed to pay off, allowing the Aussie team to surge past.
Fletcher, fresh from his 2025 Season Grand Final win, said he was on “cloud nine.” He praised the team for bouncing back from a poor first day. “It’s been an incredible start for the team here in Perth,” Fletcher said. “We had a disappointing start yesterday… but we came out firing today.”
Emirates GBR strategist Hannah Mills credited a team shake‑up and a learning mindset. “We kept a learning mindset and then put it into practice,” she said.
Tom Slingsby, driver of the Bonds Flying Roos, called the day “amazing” despite missing victory. He welcomed veteran sailor Glenn Ashby, who stepped in after an injury to Iain Jensen. “Glenn did such an amazing job stepping in on a couple of days’ notice,” Slingsby said. “He’s stoked to be racing for Australia.”
Emirates GBR also took wins in fleet races five and six. The Northstar SailGP Team won the final qualifying fleet race, but it was insufficient for overall contention.
Newcomer Artemis missed the event final, finishing fourth overall. Driver Nathan Outteridge said he was “really proud” of the result, noting the team’s progress.
The U.S. SailGP Team finished the day with lower fleet positions and sits fifth overall. U.S. driver Canfield acknowledged execution errors but said the team made “great strides.”
Season CEO Sir Russell Coutts said the Perth debut “has exceeded expectations” with intense racing and local support. Nearly 15,000 attended the sold‑out Race Stadium at Bathers Beach. The SailGP tour now moves to Auckland, New Zealand, on 14‑15 February.
