Sail GP $3m series prize in Abu Dhabi a battle between GBR, Australia, NZ

They had hoped to write a comeback story worthy of a Hollywood blockbuster but Australia’s Flying Roos have fallen short of their goal after an extraordinary SailGP finale in Abu Dhabi.

They had hoped to star in a fairytale comeback story worthy of a Hollywood blockbuster their backers Hugh Jackson and Ryan Reynolds could have been in but Australia’s Flying Roos have fallen short of their goal after an extraordinary SailGP finale in Abu Dhabi.

Instead it was Dylan Fletcher and his Great Britain team - including two Australian sailors - who came from last to first in a light win, three-boat final battle for one of the richest prize purse in world sailing.

But while Slingsby and his Flying Roos missed the victory podium an old mate from the NSW Central Coast and his Aussie teammate will share in the $3m winner-take-all purse.

Iain Jensen, who raced to a gold for Australia at the London Olympics with his 49er skipper Nathan Outteridge and crewmate Luke Parkinson, were aboard the British boat that wrote their own memorable story in the ultra light breeze of Abu Dhabi.

“It’s heartbreaking to lose a final,’’ Slingsby said.

“Felt we were in with a good shot there.

“We’ will come back next year.’’

The Australians have made all five SailGP finales raced and won three.

But this is now the second year in a row they have fallen short of the victory.

Tom Slingsby racing across his foiling F50 during the lightwind racing.

This season they have played second fiddle to their rivals like never before, winning just a single event heading into the finale on the weekend.

But had he pulled off the win, the SailGP series crown would have rated as one of Tom Slingsby’s hardest fought wins after a regatta marred by false starts, penalties, more time at the back of the fleet than at the front and an inability to match rivals in six straight qualifying races.

“We just have to go out there and execute,” Slingsby said ahead of the final.

And that's what the Aussie did early, winning the start and leading before falling off the foils in a light patcj and overtaken by both Great Britain and New Zealand.

Slignsby managed to recoup one place with the team still ending the season with $1.8m in prize money.

Originally published as Sail GP $3m series prize in Abu Dhabi a battle between GBR, Australia, NZ