Sydney once again sits at the centre of the circuit. The KPMG Sydney Sail Grand Prix opens with a mix of home confidence, unfinished business and a championship that shifted in tone after what happened in Auckland.
Australia arrives with momentum. The BONDS Flying Roos, led by Tom Slingsby, come off a win in New Zealand after a year of reaching finals without converting them. They finished second in Perth and first in Auckland. That victory, Slingsby admitted, lifted a weight from the team. They had been close, repeatedly, but unable to close it out. Now they return home level at the top of the standings with Emirates Great Britain SailGP Team, who matched their 1–2 scoreline across the opening two events.
In Sydney, Australia almost always deliver. They have won three of the five editions held here and have never finished outside the podium. But the Harbour offers no guarantees. The run to Mark 1 is short, the crossings are tight and hesitation is punished quickly. At close to 100 km/h on the foils, a misjudged tack rarely gets fixed in the next leg.
The wider context is different too. The collision between France and New Zealand in Auckland changed the shape of the season. DS Automobiles Team France and New Zealand SailGP Team will not be on the start line this weekend. Repairs continue at Southern Spars in New Zealand, where work is underway on a composite F50 using components from both damaged boats. At the same time, a detailed technical review is ongoing: foil height data, rudder angles, lateral speed at impact, response protocols and athlete equipment are all under examination. SailGP is looking at everything.
The absence of two strong teams reshuffles the table. The championship tightens at the top and opens in the middle. The United States, currently fifth overall, have looked more settled than in previous seasons. Spain’s Los Gallos are searching for points after missing Perth with boat damage. And then there is Artemis SailGP Team.
Artemis may be the newest team on paper, but the names on board are anything but inexperienced. With Nathan Outteridge at the helm, they have secured a fourth in Perth and a fifth in Auckland, placing them fourth overall. They look composed rather than rushed. Outteridge understands Sydney’s patterns; he has previously finished second here with Japan and third with New Zealand. If anyone can unsettle Australia on home waters, it is a driver who reads every shift and shadow across the Harbour.
Wind will play a decisive role. Sydney typically delivers one of two summer staples: a clean north-easterly sea breeze or a sharp southerly change. This weekend points towards something less common — a moderate easterly, forecast between 22 and 31 km/h on Saturday. Not extreme, but awkward. The course area is not ideally suited to a pure easterly. Land sits to the south upwind, creating disturbed air and rapid shifts. Local knowledge may count for less than usual.
The water inside the Harbour should remain relatively flat, so survival will not be the theme. Precision will. Start positioning, clean manoeuvres and early calls on
pressure lines will matter most. If the course splits around Shark Island, tidal flow could influence side choice. In a foiling fleet, hesitation often costs more than a bold but imperfect decision.
Another shift in atmosphere: for the first time in Sydney, racing begins at 5:30 pm local time. Twilight racing. Light fades, temperatures ease and the breeze can subtly adjust. It is more than a postcard backdrop of the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House; it adds another variable for crews and race management alike.
Alongside that, SailGP has already trialled the split fleet format, set to become permanent when a fourteenth team joins next season. It reduces congestion at starts and gates, though it does not eliminate risk in compressed areas of the course. It marks structural evolution rather than a short-term reaction.
On the sporting front, the storyline is clear: Australia versus Great Britain. Slingsby said it plainly. For him, GBR are the benchmark. The rivalry is direct now. It is about the title.
Sydney will not answer every question raised in Auckland, but it will shape momentum. With two teams absent, an unfamiliar breeze and racing at dusk, margins will be tight. Here, victory rarely goes to the most aggressive crew.
