The U.S. SailGP Team has won the Valencia Grand Prix to move into third place in the 2026 championship standings and strengthen its challenge for a place in the US$2 million Abu Dhabi Grand Final.
Taylor Canfield's all-American crew defeated championship leaders the Bonds Flying Roos in Sunday's four-boat event final, overturning the Australians' advantage on the last upwind leg. Red Bull Italy finished third in its first SailGP event final, with Rockwool Denmark fourth.
The result completed a turnaround from Saturday's opening races, as Afloat reported, Spain's Los Gallos led Group B with 14 points, ahead of Rockwool Denmark on 12 and the U.S. on 10.
Foiling fight: Rockwool Denmark and France go head-to-head as the battle for places in the Valencia SailGP event final intensifies. Photo: Jonathan Nackstrand
In Group A, Red Bull Italy had emerged as the surprise championship leaders after winning the opening race and finishing the first day with 10 points, one clear of the Bonds Flying Roos.
Canfield Makes His Move
With light conditions continuing on Sunday, each group sailed just one further qualifying fleet race using the titanium light-air foils, rudders and 27.5-metre wingsail.
Red Bull Italy won Group A for the third time in four races to secure its first event final since joining SailGP in 2025.
The picture changed dramatically in Group B, where Saturday leader Los Gallos finished last in the deciding fleet race. That allowed the U.S. and Rockwool Denmark through to the final at the expense of the Spanish home team.
The Bonds Flying Roos then made the stronger start to the final and led around mark one, while Red Bull Italy was hit by an early-start penalty.
Australia remained in control for much of the race before the Americans reduced the distance between the boats and made their decisive move on the final upwind leg.
Canfield's crew shut the door around the last mark to take its second event victory of the season. "We knew we had what it took yesterday," Canfield said. "The pressure was on to make some moves in the final, and we did a great job handling the tactics."
American revival: Taylor Canfield’s U.S. SailGP Team claimed its second event victory of 2026 in Valencia, lifting the Americans into third place in the Race to Abu Dhabi. Photo: Jason Ludlow
Canfield said the U.S. crew was particularly comfortable in the light conditions encountered in Valencia. "We feel very comfortable throwing the boat around, and we're confident in our decisions," he said.
The Valencia victory was Canfield's second SailGP event win and followed a career tally that now stands at 30 fleet-race victories.
Red Bull Italy Converts Saturday Pace
Red Bull Italy's third-place finish also turned the pace it showed on Saturday into its best event result since entering SailGP.
Driver Phil Robertson described Valencia as "the best that this team's had" after Italy won three of its four group races.
"We've been starting really, really well off the line, but in that final we broke the start line 0.2 seconds early," Robertson said. "We fought super hard and got back into that race and even had a shot at the win right at the end."
Italian breakthrough: Red Bull Italy produced its best SailGP weekend yet in Valencia, winning three group races before taking third in its first-ever event final. Photo: Felix Diemer
For Los Gallos, Sunday brought a sharp reversal after the Spanish crew had ended Saturday at the top of Group B.
"Obviously, we wanted to win the final here in Valencia, especially after the great day we had yesterday," driver Diego Botin said. "We just had a bad race. The Danes and the Americans deserve to pass into the final, and we need to take the learnings."
Slingsby Left to Rue Final Gate Call
Australia's Tom Slingsby identified the last bottom-mark gate as the point at which the Flying Roos allowed the U.S. back into the final.
"95% of the final was good for us," Slingsby said. "Then that last bottom-mark gate decision, in hindsight, I look at it as an own goal."
Roos on top: Tom Slingsby’s Bonds Flying Roos lead the charge in Valencia, where Australia retained a commanding advantage in the 2026 championship standings. Photo: Felix Diemer
Despite losing the Valencia final, Australia remains comfortably at the head of the championship.
The Bonds Flying Roos leave Spain on 79 points, 17 clear of Los Gallos on 62.
The U.S. victory has made the contest for the crucial third Grand Final spot much tighter. Canfield's team has leapfrogged Artemis and Emirates GBR, with just five points separating the three teams fighting over that final qualifying place.
Geneva Next in Race to Abu Dhabi
The championship now moves to Geneva for the final European event of the 2026 season.
Three Grand Prix remain after Valencia before the championship reaches Abu Dhabi, leaving the U.S., Artemis and Emirates GBR locked in a close contest behind Australia and Spain.
For Canfield, the Valencia result has changed the complexion of that battle. "We've got to keep getting better and stick to our process," he said. "We believe, so we're going to keep pushing and hopefully that'll be enough."
