The 2026 SailGP season began in Perth with an immediate shake up of the established order. On their very first appearance in the championship, Artemis SailGP Team ended the opening day of the Oracle Perth Sail Grand Prix presented by KPMG at the top of the provisional standings, delivering a debut performance never before seen in the league.
The Swedish team, led by Nathan Outteridge, built momentum steadily across a day shaped by strong breeze and a series of incidents that began well before the first start. Artemis opened with a modest ninth place in the opening fleet race, but quickly turned the day around with a second place followed by two consecutive wins, leaving them in front after four races.
“There was a lot of expectation around what we could do and a fair bit of internal pressure to start well,” Outteridge said at the end of the day. “After the first race it wasn’t looking great, so being able to respond and put together three really strong races made a big difference.”
The intensity was evident from early on. During training, Artemis wing trimmer Chris Draper was injured in a crash that required stitches to his face and mouth. Soon after, the Spanish team Los Gallos were ruled out of the entire event after sustaining major damage to their F50 in a separate incident. Australia also suffered an early setback, with Iain Jensen unable to line up for his first event with the BONDS Flying Roos due to a knee injury.
Once racing finally got underway, the drama escalated almost immediately. Less than a minute into the first race, New Zealand Black Foils and the Switzerland SailGP Team collided during a crossing manoeuvre, forcing both teams out of the race on the spot. The impact tore away part of the Black Foils’ stern and left a hole in the Swiss boat’s bow. No sailors were injured, but the sporting consequences were significant.
The New Zealand crew, led by Pete Burling, were deemed at fault and handed an eight point penalty, as well as being ruled out for the remainder of the weekend. “We did everything we could to keep clear,” Burling said. “They gybed and kept increasing the turn rate straight towards us. Their bow went through our boat about a metre away from me. I’m pretty shaken and frustrated, but now we need to assess the damage and see how we move forward.”
For Switzerland, the focus quickly shifted to recovery. “It all happened very fast,” explained Sebastien Schneiter. “We gybed, the Kiwis reacted, but it was already too late. It was a scary moment. Now everything is about tomorrow. We knew this season would be challenging and what matters is how we respond.”
With the Fremantle Doctor delivering 12 to 15 knots and relatively flat water off Bathers Beach, conditions were ideal for the F50s to foil consistently at speeds over 40 knots. In that setting, Artemis stood out for the precision of their manoeuvres and the clarity of their tactical calls, catching more established teams off guard.
The opening day also produced a strong showing from the United States SailGP Team, who matched Sweden and France on 31 points at the top of the table. The Americans were the most consistent team across the four races, although they are still searching for their first race win. “We kept it very solid all the way around the course,” said skipper Taylor Canfield. “We sailed conservatively and probably gave away a point or two, but it was the first day of the season and that approach made sense.”
The DS Automobiles SailGP Team France also delivered, rewarding their new naming sponsor with a race win and two second places to remain firmly in contention.
Behind the leading trio, Australia and Great Britain remain well placed heading into Sunday. The BONDS Flying Roos, helmed by Tom Slingsby, enjoyed a dream start by winning the opening race, but then slipped back into the midfield and ended the day fourth, tied on 24 points with the Emirates Great Britain SailGP Team. “After that first race it felt like everything was going to come together,” Slingsby said. “But we got dragged back into the chaos and the results suffered.”
Racing resumes on Sunday from 1pm local time, with three further fleet races scheduled before the three boat, winner takes all final. The first day in Perth made one thing clear, the 2026 SailGP season has started without deference to past form, and the newcomers have wasted no time in making their intentions clear.
