There are days when a race seems to have been written before it even starts, and others when a single decision, a change of course or a different reading of the wind can turn everything on its head. Geneva was one of those days. Los Gallos returned to winning ways, Australia once again let victory slip through their fingers, and the SailGP title race heads into its final stages with a level of tension that seemed far less likely just a few weeks ago.
I will admit it, after Valencia I said Australia would win the championship. Los Gallos had thrown away a final they had looked capable of winning, the Bonds Flying Roos had shown enormous strength for much of the season and it felt as though Tom Slingsby’s team had everything under control. Then Geneva came along, and Spain reminded us that in SailGP it is never wise to take anything for granted.
Diego Botín's team won the Rolex Switzerland Sail Grand Prix after a superb final day and claimed their third victory of the season. It was not just another win. It was the kind of victory that can change the mood inside a team, restore confidence and, above all, send a message to the rest of the fleet. Los Gallos now have eight podium finishes from the eleven Grand Prix events they have contested, with three wins, two runner up finishes and three third places. Those are remarkable numbers, particularly when you consider that they were unable to compete in Perth and New York because of technical problems with their F50. Consistency is probably their strongest argument as they chase a second SailGP title.
And now it is no longer a question of calculating whether they will make the Grand Final. Spain has secured its place in Abu Dhabi. Los Gallos sit second in the championship standings on 78 points, behind Australia on 94 and ahead of Artemis on 59. The gap to the Australians is still significant, but it no longer looks like an impossible mountain to climb. What happened on Lake Geneva explains why.
Saturday had been a frustrating day, with light and unpredictable winds making life difficult for the entire fleet. The third fleet race had to be postponed and Sunday began with the outstanding race. Los Gallos made the most of the opportunity, winning and putting themselves in a strong position. The fourth fleet race was much more complicated, with Spain having to settle for fifth place. Everything would be decided in the final fleet race, and that was when this team showed its competitive character once again. A third place was enough to send Los Gallos through to the final, alongside Australia, Denmark and the Swiss team, who made history in front of their home crowd by reaching the winner takes all final in Geneva for the first time.
And then came the stroke of genius. The Bonds Flying Roos made the better start and for much of the final looked to have the race under control. It was precisely the scenario that had helped shape my prediction after Valencia. Australia out in front, Spain trying to stay in touch and Slingsby managing the situation with the experience of a skipper who knows exactly how to win these races. But Botín decided to change the script. Los Gallos split away from the small fleet and searched for a different line. While Australia continued to control the race, Spain found more speed and, crucially, a better route. When the two boats came back together, the situation had changed.
The approach to Gate 3 was the decisive moment. Los Gallos came in with greater speed, read the situation better and managed to overtake the Australians. From there, there was no looking back. Botín and his crew defended the lead all the way to the finish line. Spain had won again. Australia finished second for the second Grand Prix in a row, once again allowing a final to slip away after appearing to have it under control. That does not mean the Australians have stopped being the standout team of the season, far from it. They are still leading the championship by a healthy margin and have also secured their place in Abu Dhabi. But Geneva showed that they are not untouchable, and that changes the picture considerably.
In Valencia, Los Gallos missed out on the final, and that setback seemed to confirm that Australia had found another gear. Two weeks later, the Spanish team has responded in the best possible way, by winning. They did it in particularly difficult conditions, with light, shifting winds and a racecourse that demanded something very different from the crews compared with their usual battles at sea. Florian Trittel admitted that the victory had a special meaning after what happened in Valencia. For a team that had experienced one of the toughest Sundays of its season there, returning with a win speaks volumes about the way this crew can respond to disappointment.
Botín also deserves plenty of credit. The Spanish skipper once again showed why he is regarded as one of the outstanding sailors of his generation. His reading of the race at the crucial moment was decisive. When Australia appeared to have the victory in its hands, Los Gallos saw an opportunity that nobody else managed to exploit. That is SailGP. Speed, strategy, nerve and decisions made in a matter of seconds.
Elsewhere, the rest of the contenders are still fighting for the final ticket to Abu Dhabi. Artemis remain third on 59 points, although the gap to Spain is now considerable. ROCKWOOL Racing claimed their first podium of the season in Geneva, while Explora Swiss made history by reaching the final in front of their home supporters. The Black Foils, meanwhile, missed out by just one point, another reminder of how fine the margins can be between success and disappointment in this championship. Red Bull Italy were unable to repeat the podium finish they achieved in Valencia and ended the day at the bottom of their group. It has been a demanding season for a team still searching for the consistency needed to challenge the leading crews.
Now there are two events left. Dubai is next, on 21 and 22 November, followed by Abu Dhabi on 28 and 29 November, where the championship will be decided. And Spain will be there. After Valencia, I wrote that Australia would win. Geneva has forced me, at the very least, to put that prediction on hold. The Bonds Flying Roos are still out in front and have more than enough reasons to believe they can lift the trophy, but Los Gallos have just shown that they still have plenty to say.
The gap is 16 points and there are ten points still available before the Grand Final. Then comes the decisive race in Abu Dhabi, where everything can change. So yes, Australia are still leading. But I am no longer prepared to take it for granted that the trophy will be travelling home with them. Los Gallos are singing their way to victory, and the final note of this championship is still a long way from being written.
