SailGP: Great Sound chaos can’t split BONDS Flying Roos and Los Gallos

In a day shaped by big breeze, tight racing and more than one heart-in-mouth moment, the Aussies and Spaniards once again underlined why they have emerged as the early pace-setters in the 2026 Rolex SailGP Championship.

The BONDS Flying Roos combined trademark aggression with clinical boat handling, while defending Bermuda champions Los Gallos looked razor sharp across a punishing afternoon on the Great Sound.

Two wins from four races was proof enough that the Aussies intend to replicate their sensational Rio victory last month in Bermuda, while Los Gallos claimed a win of their own and banked three solid results.

But the chasing pack can’t be discounted. Continuing their fine form so far this season, the U.S. SailGP Team were a model of consistency and tactical prowess, notching up a string of top results that put them third in the standings.

Season strugglers Germany by Deutsche Bank and NorthStar sought to silence their detractors with much improved performances to end the opening day in fourth and fifth respectively.

And reigning Rolex SailGP Champions Emirates GBR bounced back from their bruising collapse in Rio with a much-needed response to stay in contention heading into Super Sunday.

Elsewhere, the Great Sound lived up to its reputation as one of SailGP’s most iconic – and unforgiving – venues. Big gusts and knife-edge crossings kept the fleet under relentless pressure throughout the day, with several teams flirting with disaster as the leaderboard swung wildly from race to race.

Sweden’s Artemis SailGP became the Great Sound’s first casualties before racing had even begun as technical issues onboard their F50 prevented them from competing.

It’s a cruel blow for SailGP’s newest team following their best result yet – a third in Rio last month.

SailGP’s Tech Team now face a race against time to get Artemis back on the start line for Sunday’s action.

Artemis weren’t the only team to suffer setbacks: ROCKWOOL Racing were hampered by issues dropping and lifting their boards, forcing them to retire from race three.

Red Bull Italy’s F50 was hit by hydraulics issues in the same race, while DS Team France’s stand-in wing trimmer Glenn Ashby was injured moments after the start of race two.

Amazingly, Quentin Delapierre’s team regrouped with the help of BONDS Flying Roos reserve athlete Tom Needham to make the startline of race four, but will head into day two in 11th overall.

Possibly the biggest heart-in-mouth moment came at the start of race three as the 11 teams charged towards the line as one at speeds well over 80 km/h.

Giles Scott’s NorthStar forced their way into the tiniest of gaps – and forced ROCKWOOL Racing off the course, prompting gasps from the sellout crowd.

NorthStar were lucky to avoid the wrath of the umpires, and went on to claim a fifth-place finish. The Danes weren’t so lucky, limping home in ninth.

The action resumes on Sunday at 1400 ADT – 1700 UTC – for three more full-tilt fleet races before the top three teams will go head-to-head in the winner-takes-all Final.

Tickets to the Apex Group Bermuda Sail Grand Prix are sold out, but you can find out how to follow the action from wherever you are in the world HERE.

Text and images courtesy of SailGP.com.