Oracle Perth Sail Grand Prix

The "Fremantle Doctor" spared no one

Dylan Fletcher and his Emirates GBR crew saved their strike for Sunday. After an anonymous Saturday on the choppy waters of the Swan River, the defending champions reeled off three consecutive victories—two fleet races then the final—to claim the 10 points up for grabs in this opening round of the 2026 Rolex SailGP Championship, held 17-18 January in Perth.

Gusts hitting 30-35 knots, one-metre swells, F50 catamarans pushed to the edge of control: Perth's legendary thermal wind delivered on every promise, turning Bathers Beach into a ruthless arena.

A format that forgives nothing

The Grand Prix followed SailGP's standard mechanics:

• Saturday: three fleet races for the 10 national teams
• Sunday: two additional fleet races, then the Grand Final reserved for the top 3 in the cumulative standings
• Points system: 10 points to the final winner, 9 to second, 8 to third—the rest of the fleet scraps over the crumbs

Every position counts, every mistake costs. Sweden learned that the hard way.

Off-season moves that mattered

Several crews were reshuffled during the break. The most decisive transfer: the arrival of Stuart Bithell, Olympic gold medallist, as wing trimmer for Emirates GBR, replacing Iain Jensen. An integration validated from the very first round of the season.

On the Australian side, Tom Slingsby had to call up Glenn Ashby as a last-minute replacement aboard the BONDS Flying Roos. At DS Team France, Quentin Delapierre bet on stability—a choice that paid off as the French made it through to the final.

The British secret weapon, however, didn't feature on any transfer sheet: their flight controller, Luke Parkinson, a Perth local. His intimate knowledge of the local chop and the Fremantle Doctor's shifts proved decisive when conditions ramped up.

Day 1: collision, breakage and Swedish dominance

Saturday began in chaos. Barely a minute after one race start, Switzerland and New Zealand collided violently. Both F50s limped back to the tech base with heavy damage, condemning both teams to a weekend of repairs rather than racing. A brutal reminder of the risks inherent in high-speed racing.

While the mechanics worked overtime, Nathan Outteridge and Artemis (Sweden) dominated the day—literally and figuratively—taking the provisional lead with impressive consistency.

Emirates GBR, meanwhile, languished mid-fleet. Nothing spectacular. Nothing reassuring either.

Day 2: the British turnaround

Sunday changed everything.

The wind settled in, the British found another gear. Two fleet race victories propelled Emirates GBR into the qualifying top 3. In parallel, the script turned nightmarish for Sweden: a catastrophic 11th place in the final fleet race ejected Artemis from the final. From leaders to spectators in the space of one race.

The final: fatal penalty for Australia

Three boats on the line: Emirates GBR, the BONDS Flying Roos and DS Team France.

The drama unfolded before the starting gun. The Australians crossed the course boundary during the pre-start—a boundary penalty that forced them to let their rivals through. Condemned to chase from behind, the crowd favourites never closed the gap.

Up front, Fletcher and his crew delivered a masterclass in technical control: 100% flight time despite the waves and gusts. The British F50 never touched the water once. They crossed the finish line unchallenged.

"It hurts to lose to the British on home turf," admitted Tom Slingsby, vowing immediate revenge.

Standings after Perth

Switzerland and New Zealand leave with a deficit in both points and confidence, the direct consequence of their day-one collision.

What Perth tells us about the season

The British victory immediately validates the Stuart Bithell gamble. Emirates GBR now has a crew built for heavy conditions—precisely what the SailGP circuit regularly serves up.

For France's Quentin Delapierre, the podium confirms serious contender status. Consistency pays in a championship where margins are razor-thin from round one.

Next up? Auckland for the ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix, 14-15 February. The Kiwi Black Foils will be desperate to erase the Perth disaster in front of their home crowd.

Find the full SailGP season calendar at spencer.club.

Perth by numbers

• 15,000 spectators at the venue
• 12 million Australian dollars estimated economic impact for the region
• 30-35 knots gusting winds
• 100% flight time for Emirates GBR in the final
• 10 teams entered, 2 days of racing, 1 major collision