Emirates GBR takes second place in Dubai during Driver Dylan Fletcher’s debut event
by Emirates GBR SailGP Team 24 Nov 09:06 PST
23-24 November 2024
Nick Hutton, grinder for the Emirates Great Britain SailGP Team, navigates the boat as the team helmed by Dylan Fletcher lifts onto the foil during Race Day 2 of the Emirates Dubai Sail Grand Prix presented by P&O Marinas in Dubai, UAE © Ricardo Pinto for SailGP
The Emirates Great Britain SailGP Team led by Dylan Fletcher outpaced the USA SailGP Team helmed by Taylor Canfield on Race Day 2 of the Emirates Dubai Sail Grand Prix presented by P&O Marinas in Dubai, UAE © Jon Buckle for SailGP
Dylan Fletcher has successfully guided the Emirates Great Britain SailGP Team to a second place finish in his first event as Driver. The British crew competed against New Zealand and the United States in the winner-takes-all podium final of the inaugural SailGP 2025 Season, the Emirates Dubai Sail Grand Prix presented by P&O Marinas. Tension ran high as each team alternated leading throughout the race, with New Zealand ultimately finishing first.
Driver Dylan Fletcher expressed, “This was a solid first event for the team here in Dubai. Making it to the final was fantastic, and we put in everything we had. There was a moment when it appeared we could overtake the Kiwis, but they did well to find some pressure and move ahead. Overall, it’s been a great first event, and I’m very grateful to the team for their support around the course, making my job easier.”
Emirates GBR entered race day two on Sunday in third place after achieving results of 5-8-2 in the three fleet races held on Saturday. Two additional fleet races occurred on Sunday, with the top three teams from the five races proceeding to the final. Emirates GBR finished third in both races, securing their spot in the final.
In the fourth race, Emirates GBR began in a mid-fleet position but advanced to third in leg four, maintaining that position until the end. During the fifth fleet race, they needed to finish ahead of last season’s champions Spain to qualify for the podium final. The British crew finished in third, while Spain took fifth, with Denmark finishing first and the underdog USA taking second place.
As the three-boat final commenced, New Zealand achieved a strong start, moving ahead quickly; however, the battle was intense with numerous lead changes. The teams split at gate two, with the Brits and Kiwis opting for the left side, while the USA took the right. This decision benefited the Americans, allowing them to rise up and take the lead on the third leg.
Unpredictable conditions continued to disrupt teams’ strategies, creating a congestion of positions at the third gate. A boundary penalty was detrimental for the Americans, who fell 60m behind Emirates GBR, allowing them to take the lead. New Zealand fought back, diving inside Emirates GBR at the fourth gate to seize the lead in a maneuver that was approved by the umpires, though it could have gone either way. The Kiwis then pulled ahead, gaining clear air away from Emirates GBR and the USA to finish first.
A thrilling last-minute incident occurred at the final gate, where the USA attempted to pass the British team at the mark rounding for second place but incurred a penalty, returning second place to Emirates GBR while the Americans settled for third overall.
Emirates GBR Strategist Hannah Mills stated, “The racing was challenging given the light conditions that made staying on the foils difficult. Dylan performed exceptionally, as did the rest of the team, leading to our second-place finish. Working with Dylan has been fantastic, and everyone is excited for what lies ahead.”
The next event of the Rolex SailGP Championship’s 2025 Season is scheduled for Auckland, New Zealand, on 18-19 January. Known for its strong winds, this location will host 12 teams on the starting line, featuring new high-speed T-Foils, promising a thrilling weekend of racing.
