Black Foils Swipe Portsmouth Glory from Home Team in High-Stakes SailGP Clash
Fletcher’s team, cheered on by a roaring hometown crowd, had looked sharp all weekend but fell just short in a shortened, high-drama final on the Solent. The Swiss SailGP Team, skippered by Sebastian Schneiter, grabbed third — a first-ever finals appearance for the team, and a weekend they won’t forget anytime soon.
Burling was all business on the podium. “Challenging conditions, but the team delivered,” he said. “We’re proud to be heading into the European swing as leaders. This one feels good — especially doing it in front of a British crowd.”
It wasn’t just a win — it was déjà vu. New Zealand denied Great Britain a home victory back in Plymouth during Season 3, and they did it again here, outmaneuvering both GBR and Switzerland in a tense three-boat shootout. The Kiwis now lead the series outright — and sent a clear message doing it.
For the home team, it stung. Olympic gold medallist Hannah Mills put it plainly: “Gutted. We’d bounced back from tough events, and the support here was unbelievable. Not winning hurts — but we’re proud of the team, and we’re still in the fight.”
Switzerland’s weekend was bittersweet. They were flying in the final until technical gremlins forced them to drop out near the finish. But that didn’t stop Schneiter from soaking it in. “We earned this. First final, we sailed well, we’re proud — and we’re just getting started.”
France, meanwhile, delivered the comeback story of the regatta. After a wing collapse ruled them out of Saturday’s action, the SailGP Tech Team worked overnight to get them race-ready by Sunday. Quentin Delapierre and crew came out swinging, bagging a win and a second in fleet races 6 and 7 — not bad for a team that nearly didn’t race.
“It was surreal,” Delapierre said. “Docking out at 50 knots after a night in the shed — adrenaline straight to the helm. Not our best overall result, but we’re still in this.”
It wasn’t just equipment keeping the tech crews busy. Racecourse carnage, shifting breeze, and Solent chop made for tough conditions across the board. Australia missed the final for the second straight event — and Tom Slingsby didn’t hide his frustration. “Not happy,” he said. Spain finished sixth, and both now trail the Black Foils in the overall standings.
Emirates GBR remains in fourth, but with just one point separating them from the podium spots, the season is far from over.
And the fans? They turned out in force. Over 20,000 ticket-holding spectators packed the shoreline, with thousands more watching from boats and bluffs. When the final F50s crossed the line, the Southsea Race Stadium flipped straight into party mode. DJ legend Pete Tong lit up the Après Sail afterparty — a fitting finish to a weekend of high-octane sailing, heartbreak, and heroics.