September 13, 2025
3 minutes reading time
SailGP: Emirates GBR top table after crazy Saint-Tropez opener
Dylan Fletcher’s Emirates GBR emerged unscathed and on top from a wild opening day in Saint-Tropez which saw Red Bull Italy score their first SailGP race win.
The British crew proved that consistency is key, successfully navigating their way through four snakes-and-ladders races at the ROCKWOOL France Sail Grand Prix.
SailGP is renowned for delivering captivating action, and the first day in Saint-Tropez delivered in spades, with dramatic comebacks, start-line steals and four different winners in four races. Huge gusts and massive dips in the notorious mistral wind blowing through the Bay of Saint-Tropez provided a real test for the 12 teams, a full complement of boats gracing the start line following miracle repairs to the Brazilian and American F50s.
Championship leaders the BONDS Flying Roos flew out of the blocks, dominating the start of the opening race and defending their lead from the Brits to claim first bragging rights. But that was where the fun stopped for Tom Slingsby’s Aussie crew, following up with two tenth places amid the chaos on the racecourse.
Onboard Emirates GBR it was a different story. Fletcher and strategist Hannan Mills guided the team through three solid races – their worst result a sixth – before signing off the day with a win.
Fletcher joked in the official press conference that their tactic would be to steer clear of the other teams in an attempt to avoid any drama on the water. In reality it’s not in Fletcher’s DNA to do anything but push as hard as possible – but he’ll be happy with four bankers that see them go into day two a point ahead of the Black Foils.
Meanwhile Ruggero Tita’s Red Bull Italy joined the SailGP winners’ circle with victory in race three, their first since joining the Rolex SailGP Championship for the 2025 Season.
It’s a huge moment for SailGP’s newest team, founded and co-owned by SailGP legend Jimmy Spithill following his departure from the USA team at the end of 2023. It also made amends for a slow start that saw them finish dead last following a nose dive in the opening race, although an 11th in race four put a dampener on celebrations.
A good luck message from football star and co-owner Kylian Mbappe wasn’t enough to ignite Quentin Delapierre’s home team, the winners of the Germany Sail Grand Prix struggling to make sense of Saint-Tropez’s wacky conditions.
Les Bleus finish the day in sixth, still in the mix but with plenty to do when racing resumes on Saturday.
Throughout the fleet there were flashes of brilliance followed by moments to forget.
Spanish team Los Gallos looked to be on the charge with two thirds and a second, before coming last in the final race. NorthStar were second in race two, but had three results towards the back of the fleet. Even Pete Burling’s Black Foils scored an uncharacteristic tenth in race three.
The drama started before racing had even begun, with Formula 1 star Valtteri Bottas joining ROCKWOOL Racing and promptly becoming the fastest Sixth Sailor in SailGP history.
The Finnish driver holds the record for the fastest speed set in an F1 race of 372.5 km/h – and clocked more than 93 km/h during his white-knuckle ride onboard Nicolai Sehested’s F50.
With three more fleet races to come on Sunday before the three-boat winner-takes-all Final, there’s plenty more action in store at the ROCKWOOL France Sail Grand Prix.
Racing starts at 12.30pm CEST on Sunday. To find out how to tune in wherever you are in the world, click HERE.
Text and images courtesy of SailGP.com. Read more here.