SailGP: Black Foils win fifth Final in New York. "A confidence booster for the Final" - Burling
by Richard Gladwell/Sail-World.com/nz 23 Jun 10:36 PDT
New Zealand SailGP Team helmed by Peter Burling and Canada SailGP Team helmed by Phil Robertson compete in the final race as they pass One World Trade Centre and the New York City skyline on Race Day 2 of the Mubadala New York Sail Grand Prix in New York © Bob Martin/SailGP
Peter Burling skippered Black Foils won the penultimate regatta in Season 4 of SailGP, from Canada with Great Britain third.
In Season 4 the Kiwis have five wins from 12 Finals in Season 4.
The Final race was all over at the first mark. All boats got a very even start, but it was the Kiwis who for all their starting woes were able to pull the rabbit out of the hat when it counted. They took the inside line at the start - and converted that into a good lead at Mark 1, and eased away to a win by a margin of over 300 metres or 21 secs from Canada with Emirates Great Britain 32 secs behind the Kiwis.
Two Qualifying Races were sailed on the second day of racing in the Mubadala SailGP New York event.
France executed a bold start from behind the fleet, at the start of Race 3 and surprisingly found some clear air was able to find a gap below the windward group, sailing very fast and seized the early lead, to lead at Mark 1.
They dropped back a little. Emirates Great Britain came through and to take the lead at the end of the fifth leg, but Canada (Phil Robertson) snatched the lead at Gate 5, and the positions remained unchanged for the rest of the race, with Canada taking a clear win from Emirates GBR second 6secs back, with France third and New Zealand 4th.
Australia recovered from their 9th place in Race 3 to take the win in Race 4, but it wasn't enough for them to take a place in the Final. "We're trying to get on top of technical issues and boat sorted ahead of San Francisco, skipper Tom Slingsby said on the water after they did not make the cut for the final.
New Zealand was first to gybe away at the first mark, they were second to Australia at Gate 2, but made a big gain midway and snatched the lead at Gate 3, only to lose it again at Gate 4, to be 7secs behind Australia with France in third and Canada 4th, with GBR 5th.
The top positions remained that way to the finish, with the Kiwis training by 10secs, France 21 secs back in third, with Canada in 4th
place. Canada, New Zealand and Great Britain were the top three and progressed to the three boat winner take all Final.
After the race, skipper Peter Burling was pleased with the outcome describing it as a "confidence booster" ahead of next months Grand Final and Winner take all USD $2million (NZD$3.2million) first prize - with the winner being determined by a sudden death Final Race.