Please select your home edition
Edition
Maritimo 2023 S-Series LEADERBOARD

SailGP San Francisco: Australia wins an eventful Grand Final and $1million prize

by SailGP Media 28 Mar 2022 04:14 UTC 28 March 2022
The Australia SailGP Team with the Championship Trophy following their win in the Grand Final on Race Day 2 of San Francisco SailGP, Season 2 in San Francisco, USA © Bob Martin/SailGP

Tom Slingsby's Australia SailGP Team is the Season 2 SailGP Champions after claiming victory over Japan and the United States amidst unbelievable drama on San Francisco Bay.

On a day that saw multiple collisions, a restarted Championship Final Race - after a whale sighting on the course - and challenging winds, Slingsby's team collected the $1 million prize for winning the season.

In the day's other historic milestone, Peter Burling and Blair Tuke's New Zealand claimed the top prize in SailGP's inaugural Impact League, presented by legendary marine biologist Dr Sylvia Earle. At SailGP, athletes race for two podiums - one for sport, one for the planet. The New Zealand SailGP Team picked up the trophy - made from carbon fiber and depicting the earth balancing precariously on top to represent the fragility of the planet - after accumulating the highest number of points over the course of the season, ending with a score of 1246. Ben Ainslie's Great Britain SailGP Team came in second (1192 pts) with its Race for the Future partner STEM Crew, and Australia finished third (1161 pts) working with Parley for the Oceans.

In what was a truly unbelievable day of on-water action, Slingsby's team prevailed over rivals Nathan Outteridge's Japan and Jimmy Spithill's United States. In difficult conditions resulting in an unpredictable day of racing, rookie Spanish driver Jordi Xammar crashed into Spithill's F50 and tore a hole in the back of the USA catamaran. This required the U.S. team to undertake frantic on-water repairs to get ready for the Grand Final and prematurely ended Spain's day of racing. In the next race France and New Zealand dramatically collided - resulting in four penalty points for Burling despite being the right of way boat - as Australia prevailed to win the Mubadala United States Sail Grand Prix ahead of Great Britain and Japan.

The Championship Final Race started with the U.S. taking the early lead but the action was abandoned after a whale was sighted on the course and - in line with SailGP's policies to protect marine life - racing was halted for fifteen minutes. In the restarted race Australia dominated, managing to find an area of better pressure on the race course. It opened up an early lead and never relinquished it as all teams battled increasingly difficult conditions and patchy wind. Australia crossed the line first, followed by Japan and with the U.S. trailing.

Slingsby said: "More important than the money is that Australia came out on top and we can call ourselves the best in the world. Money comes and goes and glory lasts forever, I know that's a saying, but we really feel it right now."

After a season of highs and lows Spithill was gracious in defeat.

"At the end of the day you really have to credit the Aussies, they have been the benchmark team all season and to come back and do it back to back, it's very impressive, they deserve the win,'' said Spithill.

Australia was joined on the winner's podium by New Zealand, after they claimed the Impact League title. Launched in July, it rewards positive actions and measures teams' efforts over each event according to ten robust criteria, including travel, tech and innovation, single-use plastic and using their voice for good. The results are independently audited and verified after each event.

Along with the trophy, co-CEOs Peter Burling and Blair Tuke collected $100,000 for their Race for the Future Partner, Live Ocean. The money will go towards funding partner research into kelp forests and their potential to sequester carbon. Second and third prize - Great Britain and Australia - won $35,000 and $15,000 respectively for their Race to the Future partners.

Burling said: "We're stoked to win the first Impact League. It's been a massive team effort from everyone involved, from the shore team, the sailing team, management and our partners.

Tuke added: "Increasing awareness of the vital role a healthy ocean plays in a healthy future has been a massive focus for us this season so it's awesome that the Impact League victory will enable us to support this important work by the University of Auckland through our partnership with Live Ocean Foundation."

Season 3 of SailGP will open with the Bermuda Sail Grand Prix presented by Hamilton Princess on May 14 and 15 in Bermuda. Ten teams will contest Season 3 with the addition of Switzerland and Canada to the starting line-up. Events are confirmed in Chicago, Plymouth, Copenhagen, Saint-Tropez, Cádiz-Andalucía, Dubai, Christchurch and the final again in San Francisco. More destinations are still to be announced.

Tickets for the Bermuda Sail Grand Prix presented by Hamilton Princess are on sale here

SailGP Season 2 Championship Final Standings
1 Australia (Season Champions)
2 Japan
3 United States
4 Great Britain
5 New Zealand
6 Denmark
7 Spain
8 France

Impact League Leaderboard
1 New Zealand - 1246 pts
2 Great Britain - 1192 pts
3 Australia - 1161 pts
4 Spain - 1094 pts
5 France - 1081 pts
6 Japan - 1048 pts
7 United States - 1024 pts
8 Denmark - 967 pts

Mubadala United States Sail Grand Prix | San Francisco Final Standings
1 Australia // 33 pts
2 Great Britain // 29 pts
3 Japan // 26 pts
4 Denmark // 22 pts
5 New Zealand // 21 pts
6 United States //14 pts
7 France // 13 pts
8 Spain // 9 pts

Related Articles

NOAA reduces Atlantic bluefin tuna retention limit
The adjusted limits will take effect June 3, 2025 and extend through December 31, 2025 On May 29, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced adjustments to the Atlantic bluefin tuna daily retention limits for recreational anglers. Posted today at 1:33 pm
Delegation urges state control of red snapper
Expressing "strong support for a state-led framework to ensure science-based stewardship" South Carolina's congressional delegation, led by Congressman Russell Fry and joined by U.S. Senators, formally urged U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to transfer management of the South Atlantic snapper-grouper fishery to the states. Posted on 2 Jun
Bayliss Boatworks new construction updates
Big Deal's final touches are coming together beautifully Gearing up for her christening later this month, Big Deal's final touches are coming together beautifully. Posted on 2 Jun
Bulwarks and Bulldust – watch Episode Four
Episode Four - Mark Elkington, The Yacht Sales Co. - is now up and running Watch along as we speak with Mark Elkington from The Yacht Sales Co. about his transition from a West Australian crayfisherman to a global sales and support organisation par excellence. Posted on 30 May
All the hurricane preparation info boaters need
Atlantic hurricane season starts June 1 Recreational boaters whose vessels have been impacted by a hurricane and came out relatively unscathed know it all starts with a plan. Posted on 29 May
Hull 68 progresses on all fronts
Interior and structural systems take shape Hull 68 continues to come together with detailed advancements from the anchor locker to the bridge surround. Up forward, the anchor locker chamber is prepped for its topcoat while the bulkhead is already painted and ready for install. Posted on 29 May
6th Daily's Old School Kingfish Shootout Preview
Family Fishing Fun returns on June 14th! One of the largest kingfish tournaments in the world registers hundreds of anglers from across the Southeast to participate in the annual event at Vilano Beach Fishing Pier. Posted on 24 May
Bulwarks and Bulldust – watch Episode Three
Episode Three - Greg Haines, Princess Yachts Australia - is now up and running Episode Three - Greg Haines, Princess Yachts Australia - is now up and running Posted on 24 May
Maritimo S60 Sedan Motor Yacht - Global launch
Enhancements to both the exterior and interior deliver great appeal Leading Australian luxury motor yacht manufacturer, Maritimo, will proudly display the first S60 Sedan Motor Yacht at the 2025 Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show. Posted on 21 May
Maritimo M50 Flybridge Motor Yacht - Global launch
Setting the benchmark in long-range cruising motor yachts Maritimo, Australia's world-class luxury motor yacht builder, expands its next generation model line-up with the global launch of the all-new M50 Flybridge Motor Yacht at the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show, May 2025. Posted on 21 May
Maritimo 2023 S-Series FOOTERPalm Beach Motor Yachts