Emirates Great Britain Skipper Giles Scott Wins His Maiden SailGP Event
Emirates Great Britain skipper Giles Scott claimed his maiden victory in the weather-hit final at the ROCKWOOL Canada Sail Grand Prix. Clocking top speeds exceeding 50 knots, Emirates Great Britain team thrived in tumultuous conditions. The British team finished in the top three of both fleet races and sealed the victory in the winner-takes-all final ahead of France and Spain, who finished second and third, respectively.
The win is a momentous achievement for driver Giles Scott, who faced criticism for his performances since stepping into the driver’s seat in January this year. The victory moves Emirates GBR up to sixth on the overall season standings and is just 13 points off third as teams push towards the lucrative $2 million Grand Final in San Francisco in July.
A Dramatic Day of Racing in Halifax
The weather conditions forced SailGP to adopt an adjusted format after they were unable to safely crane all ten F50s into the water in time for the start of racing. The day’s conditions also caused drama off the water, with high winds and tumultuous weather prompting a dramatic capsize involving the Australian team on the final upwind leg of Fleet Race Five.
Tom Slingsby, the Australian team driver, pointed to a ‘malfunction’ with boat controls as the cause of the incident. All athletes are fine, but the incident builds on recent woes for the Aussie crew, including an eight-season point penalty in Christchurch. Despite winning the Fleet Race Four, the Canada SailGP Team had a disappointing day overall and finished last in Fleet Race Five, ending the weekend sixth overall.
A Historic Event for SailGP Fans
The inaugural ROCKWOOL Canada Sail Grand Prix proved to be a favorite event among fans, with thousands braving the rain to watch the action from the sold-out Race Stadium. Crowds watched from multiple vantage points around the waterfront and surrounding harbor, adding to the excitement.
The home crowd support and a win in Fleet Race Four could not help the Canada SailGP Team to reach the final. New Zealand maintained the top spot on the Season 4 Championship leaderboard despite landing in fifth place at the event overall. The event was the first time that the Black Foils team missed out on a final since Cadiz last year.
Upcoming Events for SailGP
SailGP continues its North American tour with all ten teams heading to the Big Apple for the next event, the Mubadala New York Sail Grand Prix, on June 22-23. Fans can experience the most exciting racing on water in front of the iconic New York City skyline and Statue of Liberty.
Germany SailGP Team was docked two points in the Season Championship for a four-point penalty at Oracle Los Angeles Sail Grand Prix, while Switzerland SailGP Team was docked four points in the Season Championship for an eight-point penalty at Mubadala Abu Dhabi Sail Grand Prix presented by Abu Dhabi Sports Council.
Originally Post From https://www.sailingworld.com/racing/emirates-great-britain-wins-chaotic-sailgp-in-halifax/
