SailGP: BONDS Flying Roos storm Rio to seize control of Rolex SailGP Championship

Tom Slingsby’s crew came into day two on Guanabara Bay steady but winless after the opener, with SailGP’s long-awaited South American debut finely poised.

What followed was a statement. In front of a roaring Rio crowd, the Aussies flipped the script and owned the day from start to finish.

They won all three fleet races in punchy, shifting breeze funneled past Sugarloaf Mountain, turning the racecourse into a tactical minefield – and the BONDS Flying Roos danced straight through it.

The conditions demanded precision and patience in equal measure. Gusts rolled unevenly across the bay, pressure lines appearing and vanishing in seconds, while tight boundaries punished even the smallest error. But Slingsby’s team looked untouchable, nailing starts, picking shifts and executing maneuvers with clinical efficiency to rack up a perfect scoreline.

That dominance carried into the Final, where they faced a fired-up Artemis SailGP Team and ever-consistent Los Gallos SailGP Team. But once again, the Aussies seized control early and never let go, extending their lead leg by leg to shut the door on any late drama.

Notching up their 17th Finals victory of their SailGP career, Slingsby’s crew underlined their status as the benchmark of the fleet – and, in doing so, took a firm grip on the Rolex SailGP Championship standings.

Behind them, Los Gallos continued their impressive run of form, converting another composed regatta into a runners-up finish – their third podium in four events this season. The Spanish outfit’s consistency is fast becoming a defining trait, keeping them firmly in the championship hunt.

There was also plenty to celebrate for Artemis, SailGP’s newest team, who secured their first podium finish since joining the league at the start of 2026. The Swedish crew showed growing confidence across the weekend and saved their best for Sunday, rising to the occasion when it mattered most.

As SailGP’s debut in South America delivered both spectacle and intensity, Rio set the tone for what promises to be a pivotal stretch of the season – and, right now, the Flying Roos have the wind squarely in their sails.

The victory moves the Aussies into pole position on the 2026 Season leaderboard with a seven-point jump on second-placed Emirates GBR, the reigning SailGP champions, and eight on the third-placed U.S. Sailing Team.

As SailGP’s debut in South America delivered both spectacle and intensity, Rio set the tone for what promises to be a pivotal stretch of the season – and, right now, the Flying Roos have the wind squarely in their sails.

The victory moves the Aussies into pole position on the 2026 Season leaderboard with a seven-point jump on second-placed Emirates GBR, the reigning SailGP champions, and eight on the third-placed U.S. Sailing Team.

Elsewhere, it was a weekend of contrasts across the fleet. France returned to action after their dramatic collision with the Black Foils in Auckland, but their comeback ended in frustration, disqualified from race seven after barging in at the start.

Emirates GBR endured a rare off-weekend, finishing 12th – their first last-place result since Cowes in Season 1.

For Mubadala Brazil SailGP Team, the result mattered less than the moment. Racing on home waters for the first time, they were roared on by passionate local support as Rio delivered a festival atmosphere, with nearly 8,000 spectators across the weekend bringing noise, color and energy to SailGP’s South American debut.

As Rio proved, this championship can turn in an instant. Right now, though, the BONDS Flying Roos have found another gear – and the rest of the fleet is chasing their wake.

Fans won’t have to wait long to experience the high-speed action again, as the Rolex SailGP Championship returns to the pristine waters of Bermuda next month for the Apex Group Bermuda Sail Grand Prix, May 9-10, 2026.

Grab a ticket HERE – or find out how to follow the action HERE.

Text and images courtesy of SailGP.com.