The 2026 SailGP season burst into life off Perth with high winds, heavy contact, tight fleet racing and a commanding final performance that saw Emirates GBR secure the inaugural event win of the new season.
Racing opened under strong Fremantle Doctor conditions, with the championship’s largest fleet to date taking the start line. Attrition hit early when Spain were ruled out of the event after practice damage, and then New Zealand and Switzerland were eliminated from further contention after a heavy collision at Gate 2 in Race 1.
From the first start, premium execution was at a premium. Australia’s Bonds Flying Roos capitalised on a clean launch to take the initial victory, while DS Team France and the United States claimed second and third respectively.
Race 2 saw DS Team France convert strong boat speed and line timing into a win as the fleet settled into the Fremantle chop. Artemis recovered from a slow opener to take second, and Emirates GBR underlined their consistency with third.
In Race 3, pressure and traffic reshaped the order. France again led early, but Artemis seized an opportunity in traffic to claim their first win of the weekend, climbing from a ninth-place Race 1 finish into contention.
Race 4 continued the swing of momentum. As multiple teams accumulated penalties, Artemis demonstrated composure to take back-to-back wins, followed by Australia and the USA. Consistent finishes kept the Swedes firmly in the hunt as Sunday approached.
The Super Sunday fleet sequence intensified the competition. Emirates GBR delivered a decisive performance in Race 5, holding speed and attitude through gusts above 35 km/h to cross the line ahead of Italy, Australia and the rest.
Race 6 saw a tactical duel for supremacy. Germany initially led, but late compression and traffic shifts handed Emirates GBR their second win thanks to a textbook final layline and mark rounding. France and Australia featured prominently, reinforcing their front-fleet credentials.
With just one fleet race to go before the event final, NorthStar Canada delivered a commanding Race 7 performance, leading from start to finish and locking in valuable points. France and Australia followed, and those results set the podium line-up for the event final.
In the winner-takes-all final, Emirates GBR controlled from the gun, rounding the first mark in front and never relinquishing. Tom Slingsby’s Bonds Flying Roos took second overall, and France completed the podium with third.
Final fleet totals after seven fleet races:
DS Team France – 46 points
Emirates GBR – 44 points
Artemis – 43 points
Bonds Flying Roos – 40 points
U.S. SailGP Team – 36 points
Red Bull Italy – 29 points
NorthStar Canada – 26 points
ROCKWOOL Racing – 23 points
Germany – 18 points
Brazil – 18 points
Switzerland – 7 points
Los Gallos – 0 points
Black Foils – –7 points (penalties)
Emirates GBR’s final scoreline in the Perth event capped a weekend that tested fleet depth, tactical nous and seamanship under pressure, and sets a high bar as the 2026 SailGP season rolls on.