Australia's Bonds Flying Roos secured a third consecutive SailGP event victory after a dramatic finale at the Mubadala New York Sail Grand Prix. Tom Slingsby's crew edged out Emirates GBR and Canada's Northstar SailGP Team in a tense winner-takes-all final on the Hudson River. The victory completed a remarkable recovery after the Australians were forced to replace a broken rudder before the opening race of the day.
The final remained close throughout. Emirates GBR briefly took control before a late wind shift handed momentum back to the Flying Roos.
Slingsby's crew held off a final challenge from Dylan Fletcher's British team to cross the line first in a near photo finish. "It was a tough day out on the water, very patchy and tricky conditions," said Slingsby. "You had to trust what you could see rather than rely too heavily on the software."
Reflecting on the team's winning streak, he added, "Three wins in a row? Pretty wild, to be honest. It hasn't really sunk in yet." The result extends Australia's lead in the Rolex SailGP Championship standings to 11 points ahead of Emirates GBR.
Canada's Northstar SailGP Team reached its first event final of the 2026 season, providing a timely boost ahead of next month's home event in Halifax.
Liberty Race — Australia's Bonds Flying Roos, Canada's Northstar and Emirates GBR foil past the Statue of Liberty during the Mubadala New York Sail Grand Prix, where the Australians secured a third consecutive SailGP event victory. Photo: SailGP
The biggest talking point of the weekend came during the final fleet race, when the U.S., Red Bull Italy, and Mubadala Brazil teams were involved in a multi-boat collision. The incident ended American hopes of a podium finish on home waters despite a strong performance throughout the event.
U.S. driver Taylor Canfield described the crash as "disappointing". "No one likes to be involved in a big collision," he said. "When we noticed it, we did everything we could."
Race officials later issued the U.S. SailGP Team a seven-point penalty for breaching Rule 14 relating to avoiding contact. Red Bull Italy received a four-point event penalty, while Brazil escaped sanction. Despite the setback, the U.S. team moved up to third overall in the championship standings.
Crew member Anna Weis remained positive after the incident. "You win as a team, you lose as a team, you crash as a team," she said. "I think what matters most is how you bounce back."
Championship Sunday began with all teams level on points after organisers decided not to count the opening-day racing, when only four teams were able to compete. Improved conditions on Sunday delivered close racing before thousands of spectators gathered on Governors Island and aboard official spectator vessels.
Table Toppers — The 2026 SailGP championship leaderboard after New York shows Australia's Bonds Flying Roos leading Emirates GBR by 11 points following their third straight event win. Photo: SailGP
SailGP Managing Director Andrew Thompson praised the event's atmosphere. "Racing in New York is always a standout moment on the calendar," he said. "The energy from the fans this weekend has been exceptional."
The Rolex SailGP Championship now moves to Halifax, Canada, for the next event on 20-21 June.
