Australia took the honours by edging out New Zealand on the opening day of the SailGP season in the Emirates Dubai Sail Grand Prix on Saturday.
The Australians produced a stunning final race win at the Port Rashid Cruise Terminal-2 to finish the first day on 24 points, followed by New Zealand a point behind them and Great Britain, racing under the Emirates banner, in joint third alongside Canada and the US on 18 each.
“There's a lot of snakes and ladders out there but we had a really good day. We're going to be happier. We had a good start to the season. Good day,” said Australian driver Tom Slingsby.
“Obviously there's a lot more that we need to do. We need to have a good day tomorrow to lock it in. Lock in that final position and then have it shot.”
Australia are three-time champions but their title hopes last year was dashed by Spain. They are out to regain their crown and their start shows they are up among the favourites.
Sporting a new livery and racing for the first time with new wing trimmer, Chris Draper, the Aussies showed superb tactical decision-making to pick up consistent 3-5-1 race results, taking a stunning win in the third fleet race.
“The starts of the races look so tricky. Obviously a pretty tough second one but that third one just came in and you found that gap,” Slingsby said.
“I think in the second start we were going backwards when the gun went and we were last at the first mark. And, yeah, the last one we had a little gap and we snuck through and got on the foil and we sailed away. That was great.”
Dylan Fletcher of Emirates GBR said it was a difficult first day for them at the SailGP, but was looking ahead after finishing close on the heels of the leaders Australia and New Zealand.
“Dubai is a fantastic venue, nice and warm, flat water but difficult conditions out there with the 11 boats,” the Briton said.
“Ultimately, I think we've just about managed to come through unscathed. Looking forward to racing tomorrow. I think we take the learnings from today.
“It's my first time with the big wing, first time racing 11 boats so yeah there's lots of learning to do and we're just looking forward to getting out there again, you know, it was a great first day, the crowd, the support, being a local team it was brilliant.”
Mubadala Brazil, making their debut in Dubai, finished second last, which wasn’t what they were looking for, according to Martine Grael, the only female driver in the 11 boats.
“We had some issues in the first two races but we fixed it ahead of the last race and got into the racing,” she said.
“Obviously it's not the result we were looking for, but I think trying to weaken a few H2 mode endowments and trying to get better for the next day, that's always our goal.
“Sometimes you just have to deal with what you have and try to make the best out of it.”
Taylor Canfield’s United States converted an excellent start into a decisive win in the opening race, while race two saw a perfect start for Canada and Brazil, with the pair going head-to-head in a light wind drag race to Mark 1.
But Canada pushed Brazil wide, causing the fledgling team to drop behind the rest of the fleet and finish 10th, while Canada took the win under new driver Giles Scott.
An expertly timed run up to the start line saw the Australia scream into a crowded line-up in the third fleet race, win the sprint to Mark 1 and pop up on to the foils to pull away.
Emirates GBR and Canada followed closely behind, but Australia stretched ahead to cross the line with a near two-minute lead over the British in second.
The most dramatic moment of the day however saw newcomer Brazil execute a last-minute dash to the finish line, passing four boats to finish in sixth.
Racing resumes at 2pm on Sunday, with two further fleet races scheduled ahead of the winner-takes-all final.
The season sees 12 catamaran teams representing 12 nations competing over 14 championship rounds starting in Dubai, with the finale in Abu Dhabi. There will be races in Brazil, Germany, Switzerland and New Zealand, as well as a return to the UK and New York.
The UAE already plays host to numerous international sporting events including the likes of UFC, cricket, Formula One, tennis and horse racing. And now Dubai and Abu Dhabi have the prestigious honour of staging the opening and concluding races on the SailGP calendar.
“In my view, the UAE is becoming the sporting capital of the world and we want to support establishing that as part of what the Emirates identity is,” Sail GP managing director Andrew Thompson said at the launch ceremony on Friday.
“It's quite a statement to have the opening event here in Dubai and then the final in Abu Dhabi. We have got a fantastic site here in Dubai and are looking at some sites in Abu Dhabi that will really showcase the UAE capital to the world for that final event in November next year.”
