SailGP: Emirates GBR storm to victory in Saint-Tropez as weather halts racing

The British team secured victory thanks to a standout performance on Friday, when blustery mistral winds produced heart-pounding action in front of a packed Saint-Tropez shoreline.

In light of a warning issued for severe weather in Saint-Tropez on Saturday, the decision was taken to cancel racing for the safety of athletes and fans.

With no further racing possible on Sunday, Emirates GBR’s consistency sees them stay top of the leaderboard – and, crucially, move up to second in the 2025 Season standings with three events remaining.

“It’s amazing to win,” Emirates GBR strategist Hannah Mills said. “We had a great day yesterday. Obviously we’re gutted for the fans that we can’t race today, but what a day it was yesterday. Anything can happen in the last three events, and to be in the mix is all we could have hoped for at the start of the season. We’re excited for the rest of it.”

Driver Dylan Fletcher added: “We’re absolutely stoked to have finished top after the first day, it was a great day of racing on the 18m wings. We’re just looking forward to Geneva now. It’s disappointing not to be out there today, but Geneva is going to be fantastic.”

Team principal Sir Ben Ainslie praised the squad’s resilience after a rollercoaster campaign.

“They’ve done brilliantly,” Ainslie said. “Coming back from the crash in Germany and just sailing brilliantly yesterday in tricky conditions, we can really see the team are gelling well. This is a critical moment in the season with this triple-header, and then looking to the final in Abu Dhabi in November. It’s all to play for.”

With just three events left, the title race is wide open – and Emirates GBR are firmly in contention to make the coveted three-boat Season Grand Final in Abu Dhabi.

A second-place finish for Pete Burling’s Black Foils sees them regain the overall lead by one point, while Tom Slingsby’s BONDS Flying Roos slip to third after ending day one in Saint-Tropez in fifth.

Germany by Deutsche Bank also had reason to celebrate. Their fourth place finish is their best ever.

Despite the disappointment of no racing in Saint-Tropez, the good news for SailGP fans is that they will only have to wait a week before the action resumes.

Geneva will host the first ever Rolex Switzerland Sail Grand Prix next weekend (20-21 September), where old rivalries will reignite as the race to the Grand Final intensifies.

Text and images courtesy of SailGP.com. Read more here.