Emirates Dubai Sail Grand Prix presented by P&O Marinas Overall – New Zealand wins season opener
by SailGP 24 Nov 06:44 PST
23-24 November 2024
Peter Burling, co-CEO and pilot of the New Zealand SailGP Team, celebrates on the podium with his team after their victory on Race Day 2 of the Emirates Dubai Sail Grand Prix presented by P&O Marinas in Dubai, UAE. Sunday, 24 November © Christopher Pike for SailGP
Continuing from their previous success in January, Peter Burling’s ‘Black Foils’ secured their third consecutive victory in the UAE, outpacing the Emirates Great Britain and U.S. SailGP Team on the flawless waters of Port Mina Rashid.
The Black Foils have now achieved back-to-back victories at the Rolex SailGP Championship’s season-opening event.
New Zealand Driver Peter Burling commented, “Fantastic performance from the team – considering it’s our first event together, getting to the final was a significant achievement in these light winds. We executed well this season, got a strong start, and hit mark one perfectly. I made a poor decision to complicate things with a right turn, which put us back but after that it was smoother sailing, and we raced hard to clinch the win.”
After facing technical, light wind conditions on Saturday, the 11-boat Rolex SailGP Championship fleet enjoyed breezy, foiling conditions, creating a thrilling spectacle for fans along the shore.
U.S. SailGP Team Driver Taylor Canfield expressed his joy at finishing third, stating, “It’s incredible to be on the podium, and it’s amazing to see our hard work finally paying off. It’s early in the season and we have plenty to build on, but the team put in tremendous effort and made substantial improvements overnight. Everyone stepped up and found ways to better themselves today. The goal is clear, and it showcases our determination and fight – we’re really excited.”
The Emirates Dubai Sail Grand Prix, presented by P&O Marinas, represented a welcome change for the all-American crew, who hadn’t stood on the podium since their previous race in the Middle East. They delivered a solid performance over both days, earning crucial points to secure a spot in the podium final. Emirates GBR Driver Dylan Fletcher showcased his capabilities by finishing an impressive second in his first event since Season 1.
As the fifth and final fleet race approached, a tight competition for third place was developing among several teams, including Emirates GBR and reigning champions Spain. However, Los Gallos failed to outpace Fletcher and missed the final. Despite a strong lead heading into day two, the Flying Roo missed out, finishing last in race five.
Red Bull Italy, one of the new nations entering the Rolex SailGP Championship in 2025, did not gain event points, while fellow newcomer Mubadala Brazil earned their first point in the standings.
Mubadala Brazil SailGP Team Driver Martine Grael said, “We faced many challenges. The first day had its difficulties, especially with our first major winds. Overall, things are progressing well, and I am very satisfied with our crew. We’re making significant improvements quickly, so it’s been a steep learning experience.”
Fans at the Emirates Dubai Sail Grand Prix enjoyed live entertainment from singer-songwriter Craig David as they took in the sunset along the shore. The exhilarating action on the water will continue in January with the Rolex SailGP’s first event of the new year, the ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix in Auckland (January 18-19, 2025). This event marks the long-awaited debut in the city, and Burling expressed the team’s excitement, saying, “We’re thrilled to be heading home. The energy in town is already palpable. The designs for the new grandstand are incredible, so for any Kiwis who haven’t bought tickets yet, this will be an unforgettable weekend.”
Tickets are selling quickly – visit SailGP.com/Auckland to witness 12 F50 catamarans racing for the first time in the city of sails.
Emirates Dubai Sail Grand Prix, presented by P&O Marinas Day 2 results:
1. New Zealand 47 points
2. Emirates Great Britain 43 points
3. United States 40 points
4. Spain 32 points
5. Australia 32 points
6. Canada 26 points
7. ROCKWOOL Denmark 23 points
8. Germany 22 points
9. Switzerland 22 points
10. Mubadala Brazil 10 points
11. Red Bull Italy 5 points
Leaderboards for the Emirates Dubai Sail Grand Prix, presented by P&O Marinas:
1. New Zealand 10 points
2. Emirates Great Britain 9 points
3. United States 8 points
4. Spain 7 points
5. Australia 6 points
6. Canada 5 points
7. France 5 points
8. ROCKWOOL Denmark 4 points
9. Germany 3 points
10. Switzerland 2 points
11. Mubadala Brazil 1 point
12. Red Bull Italy 0 points
