For once, SailGP pirate Tom Slingsby was wrong. On the anniversary of last season’s final defeat, the Australian F50 pilot, Flying Kangaroos, winner of the first three seasons of SailGP, feared only the assault of his tormentors, the Spanish boat skippered by Diego BotÃn, but finally surrendered in the grand final in Abu Dhabi, the $1 million prize to the winner, to the British F50 of Dylan Fletcher, a sailor with extensive America’s Cup experience. Third place was New Zealander Peter Burling, who was able to drive his F50 despite cutting his finger.
In the six fleet races, the Spaniards, who had to shave six points off the Australians to be one of the three in the final, scraped just two points and watched from the beach to victory for Fletcher, the 38-year-old and Olympic 49er champion in Tokyo, who took over the British wheel this year on loan from the historic Ben Ainslie when he became the team’s chief executive.
“We struggled until the last test, and we endured the pressure of a team like Australia, the three-time league champion. We can be proud,” Putin said. He added: “The end of the season was difficult, but the lessons we learned give us strength for next season.”
SailGP, the Formula 1 of the sea invented by millionaire Larry Ellison and sailor Russell Coates, has already moved forward its 13-event calendar for next season, where, with the incorporation of Swedish Artemix, the fleet increases to 13 catamarans. The first test will be held in Perth (Australia) on January 17-18. Spain will continue testing in September, although Cadiz, the usual venue, has not yet been confirmed.