SailGP upset sets up Aussie grudge match in thrilling $1.4 million Grand Final

Australia is set to have a crack at SailGP’s $1.4 million Grand Final prize after an upset set up a thrilling season finale.

SailGP fleet in action at the New Zealand Sail Grand Prix in Christchurch, New Zealand. (Photo by Bob MARTIN / SailGP / AFP)

The third season of SailGP is set to be decided by a battle between two-time defending champions Australia and New Zealand in the season finale in San Francisco.

Canada won the penultimate event of the season in Christchurch on Sunday, claiming victory in the final podium race ahead of New Zealand and Australia.

The result was extra sweet for Canada’s Kiwi driver Phil Robertson, who steered his team to its first ever event victory on home soil after losing out in the finals of Bermuda and Chicago earlier this season.

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It was a remarkable turnaround after Canada’s boat was severely damaged in wild storms that saw the final day of SailGP’s Sydney event cancelled last month.

Australia dominated the final two final fleet races of the event in Christchurch, showing their winning form and taking first position in both to secure a seat in the final.

Australian skipper Tom Slingsby confessed the day prior the team had “lost their confidence” as of late but he was pleased with their performance on the final race day saying that it felt like “we were the Australian Team of old today”.

“Even though we have been sailing well this season we haven’t been dominating fleet races so we’re really stoked with today’s results and feel like we have our mojo back for the Grand Final in San Francisco,” Slingsby said.

Phil Robertson (centre), driver of Canada SailGP Team, lifts the trophy with his teammates after winning SailGP New Zealand. (Photo by FELIX DIEMER / SailGP / AFP)

A perfect start by all three boats in the final meant everything was to play for as the race got underway, but it was Canada that was first to mark one with the all-important inside track.

The Australians followed in second position for most of the race, however minor board technical issues allowed them to be pipped by the Kiwis, with the Aussies ending the race in third place.

Slingsby said: “We were almost able to roll Canada in the first mark there but then they got ahead of us and luffed us. Once they had the lead there weren’t many opportunities to overtake them after that.”

The nine-strong F50 fleet will meet again for the Season 3 Grand Final in San Francisco on May 6-7, where the season champion will be decided.

The event results mean the Aussies have a comfortable 11-point lead over New Zealand at the top of the standings, while France is just one point ahead of Great Britain in third.

The normal fleet races will take place in San Francisco, after which the final season pointscore will be calculated to determine the three teams that will race in the decider.

Barring a disaster such as damage to their boat, Australia’s spot in the Grand Final is all but guaranteed.

The Aussies are all but certain to race in the Grand Final. (Photo by Bob MARTIN / SailGP / AFP)

The rivalry between Australia and New Zealand — and their respective skippers Slingsby and Peter Burling — has grown throughout the season as the Kiwis found more consistency and used aggressive tactics against the Aussies.

Australia won the first two seasons of SailGP and will pocket a cool A$1.4 million if they triumph once again in San Francisco.

Conscious of the growing competition, Slingsby has called for the championship to be decided by an aggregate pointscore at the end of the season, instead of a winner-takes-all grand final.

But he’ll have to put it all on the line in a couple of months in a racecourse set between Alcatraz Island and the Golden Gate Bridge.

SailGP season 3 leaderboard

1) Australia (84 points)

2) New Zealand (73 points)

3) France (69 points)

4) Great Britain (68 points)

5) Denmark 60 points)

6) Canada (59 points)

7) USA (57 points)

8) Switzerland (29 points)

9) Spain (29 points)