The SailGP fleet in action at Lyttelton Harbour, Christchurch.
photo: Photosport
New Zealand had to settle for second place at the debut Sail GP event at Christchurch’s Lyttelton Harbour.
But New Zealand’s Phil Robertson spearheaded the Canda winner, beating New Zealand and Peter Burling to secure Canada’s first win.
In one of the closest final battles of the season, the Canadiens matched Burling, with close interceptions and lead changes.
New Zealand, Canada and Australia all started well in the final, but Canada was the first to reach Mark One with the all-important inside track.
Despite falling off the foil and even receiving a boundary penalty, the Canadians were consistently faster than New Zealand and Australia.
It is the first win for the young team, who previously lost in the Bermuda and Chicago finals earlier in the season.
Robertson said he was pleased to finally get an event win and “wanted to win at home”.
“We tried well to let the Kiwis back into it but we managed to clear the penalty and get to the bottom quickly, such happy days!”
“I’ve got my parents, my wife and my brothers here and it’s Canada’s first win — we’re trying to be competitive with the best teams, so today is just an example of what we can do,” Robertson said.
Spectators watch from the grandstand at the Sail GP event in Christchurch.
photo: Brett Phibbs for SailGP
The victory came only after Canada moved into the top three of the final showdown by narrowly defeating the Emirates Great Britain SailGP team in the closing moments of the fifth fleet race.
Despite two race wins on the second day of racing in Christchurch, Tom Slingsby’s Australia never posed a serious threat as the final unfolded.
However, the results of the event mean that Australia remains at the top of the overall rankings with 84 points, while New Zealand, in second place with 73, has narrowed the gap slightly.
France remain third despite finishing fifth in Christchurch, but have a narrow one-point lead over Emirates Team GBR who are fourth.
The nine-member F50 fleet will compete in the Season 3 Grand Final in San Francisco in early May, where the season’s champion will be decided.
– RNZ
