The day did not bode well for the second day of the SailGP Valencia Grand Prix, with the first starts delayed for some breeze to arrive. But in the end the errant breeze provided its own jeopardy to both the two Group fleet races and an even more Topsy-turvy Final.
The Final between Bonds Flying Roos, Red Bull Italy, US SailGP Team and Rockwool Racing started in 7.5 knots. At the first mark Tom Slingsby took Bonds into the lead foiling at 27 knots (50 KM/hr) from the US, Rockwool and Red Bull. Maintaining that lead at Gate 2 before going hard right with a 90 metre lead.
When they came to the final mark approach Taylor Cranfield and US SailGP Team came in narrowly ahead of Slingsby, foil tacked close to the mark, and shut the door to sail straight for the Finish, crossing with for an 11 sec win. Third was Phil Robertson and Red Bull, and fourth Nicolai Sehested and Rockwool Racing.
An important win for the US SailGP Team putting them into third on the overall leaderboard with 56 pts. Bonds Flying Roos are top with 85 pts and second Los Gallos with 68 pts.
No relief for Dylan Fletcher and Emirates GBR, despite a second place in the final Group race. They missed the event Final by a point and slip to fifth overall behind Artemis on 51 pts, which will no doubt disappoint them.
With only three Grand Prix remaining after Valencia, the fight for a place in the US $2 million Grand Final race has intensified further. Just five points separate the U.S. SailGP Team, Artemis and Emirates GBR in the fight for the third and final Abu Dhabi spot, while the Bonds Flying Roos sit 17 clear of Los Gallos at the top.
Next event is Geneva, Switzerland, 19-20 September, before they head to the Middle East for the Dubai and Abu Dhabi events and the Grand Final in November.