Fourth Consecutive Victory for Wednesday Night Leaders
IslandStats.com
Airforce has extended its dominant streak in the Wednesday Night Sailing series, securing a fourth consecutive victory with a clinical performance on Race Day Five.
The crew of Airforce set the pace from the outset, becoming the first boat to cross the line with a sharp elapsed time of 59:50. Even after the handicaps were applied, their corrected time of 56:37 proved untouchable, keeping them firmly at the summit of the leaderboard.
The battle for the remaining podium spots was a closely fought affair between Scatteraction and Passion. Scatteraction was the second vessel to complete the course, clocking an elapsed time of 1:00:40. Their corrected time of 57:25 was enough to secure the runner-up spot for the evening.
Passion followed closely behind, crossing the line third in 1:00:54. A corrected time of 57:38 ensured they rounded out the top three, narrowly missing out on the second spot in a tactical night on the water.
The depth of the fleet was on full display as the mid-table contenders pushed for position. Menace claimed fourth place with a corrected time of 58:31, while Tiburon produced a steady performance to round out the top five finishers with a corrected time of 59:15.
Howie Hodgson’s Swan 75, True, has claimed a clean sweep of the major honors in the 2026 Antigua Bermuda Race, navigating a tactically bruising 935-mile course that left nearly half the fleet stranded at sea.
In what will be remembered as one of the most unpredictable editions of the longest offshore race in the Western Atlantic, True secured line honors, the prestigious Warrior Trophy for first under IRC, and first place under CSA.
The race was defined by an unusual weather pattern that defied traditional expectations. The legendary strong tradewinds were absent at the start, replaced by a tentative 10-knot breeze that persisted for the opening days.
While the leaders eventually punched through a front—encountering 20-30 knot squalls that propelled them toward the finish—those further back were not so fortunate. A lack of pressure left the trailing pack "parked" in light air. The consequences were stark: of the seven starters, three failed to make the eight-day time limit. In a cruel twist of fate, the yacht Rock n' Roll was just eight miles from the finish line when the clock finally ran out.
Despite the disparity in size, the battle at the front was remarkably tight. True found itself shadowed for much of the journey by Michael Hennessy’s scow-bow Class40, Scowling Dragon. Despite their vastly different waterlines, the two boats were almost equally rated under the CSA system.
Hennessy, whose Scowling Dragon took second place and the trophy for the first double-handed boat, reflected on the narrow margins of the 935-mile trek. He noted that had the conditions offered just a few more hours of fast reaching, the Class40 might have bridged the 20-mile gap to the Swan 75.
With the fleet now safely in Hamilton, the focus shifts to the post-race celebrations, though for those who missed the cut by mere miles, the 2026 edition will likely be remembered for what might have been.
Tuesday, May 12, 2026
Stovell & Dalhousie Secure Top-Four Finish in Vancouver
IslandStats.com
The University of British Columbia (UBC) have been crowned the 2026 CICSA Keelboat National Champions, as the Dalhousie Sailing Team delivered a resilient performance to finish fourth overall at the Royal Vancouver Yacht Club.
Competing on the picturesque but tactically demanding waters of English Bay, the "UBC 1" crew utilized their home-court advantage to perfection. Over three days of intense racing, the hosts demonstrated superior boat handling to clinch the national title, fending off a competitive field of Canada’s top collegiate programs.
The Dalhousie Tigers arrived in Vancouver with a three-person contingent that included Bermudian standout Nicole Stovell. Fresh off a season where she was recognized as the CICSA Female Skipper of the Year, Stovell was instrumental in navigating the Tigers through an unpredictable series of shifts and heavy traffic.
Despite the change from their familiar Atlantic conditions, the Dalhousie crew remained in the podium hunt until the final afternoon of racing. Their fourth-place finish underlines the program's consistency on the national stage, following their success at the Fleet Race Nationals earlier in the academic year.
The event, hosted by the Royal Vancouver Yacht Club, provided a world-class backdrop for the championship. Known for its varying tidal currents and coastal breezes, the venue tested the tactical depth of all twelve competing teams.
Sunday, May 10, 2026
Australia Rule the Great Sound as Roos Claim Bermuda Title
IslandStats.com
Australia have once again proven why they are the benchmark of foiling catamaran racing, as Tom Slingsby’s crew navigated a high-stakes Sunday to be crowned champions of the Apex Group Bermuda Sail Grand Prix.
Following a chaotic opening day on the Great Sound, the fleet was greeted for the final session by bright, sunny skies and a shifting breeze that demanded tactical perfection. While Australia and Spain entered the day tied for the lead, a resurgent chasing pack ensured the path to the winner-take-all final was anything but straightforward.
The opening encounter in Race Five saw Diego Botin and Los Gallos pick up exactly where they had left off on Saturday. The Spanish team delivered a clinical performance to take the win, narrowly fending off a persistent challenge from Tom Slingsby. Crucially, the newly repaired Artemis boat helmed by Nathan Outteridge showed immediate pace to finish fourth behind France's Quentin Delapierre, signaling a successful return to competitiveness after their earlier mechanical heartbreaks.
The momentum shifted in Race Six as Emirates GBR’s Dylan Fletcher reminded the fleet of his championship pedigree. After a mixed opening day, the British boat found its groove in the sunshine, leading from the front to take a vital victory. Quentin Delapierre continued a strong Sunday surge for France with a second-place finish, keeping the podium race wide open, while Slingsby settled for third ahead of Outteridge and Switzerland’s Sebastien Schneiter.
The final fleet race of the series belonged to Giles Scott and the NorthStar Canada crew. In a tactical battle through the lighter Sunday air, Scott navigated the shifts brilliantly to claim a popular win. France again finished second, a result that cemented their place in the afternoon conversation, while Slingsby’s consistent third-place finish ensured Australia’s progression to the afternoon's main event. Dylan Fletcher and Phil Robertson rounded out the top five for Great Britain and Italy respectively.
The seven-race series concluded with the top three boats in the overall standings qualifying for the high-pressure Grand Final. Under the gaze of a packed shoreline, the BONDS Flying Roos showcased their experience when it mattered most. Tom Slingsby executed a flawless start, seizing the preferred inside line at the first mark and never looking back. Despite intense pressure from Diego Botin and Giles Scott, the Australians crossed the line to secure another SailGP event title, extending their lead at the top of the 2026 Rolex SailGP Championship. The league now looks ahead to New York, with the rest of the fleet left wondering how to halt the seemingly invincible Australian juggernaut.
Saturday, May 09, 2026
Slingsby & Botin Locked in Dead Heat After Dramatic Day
IslandStats.com
The Rolex SailGP Championship returned to the turquoise waters of the Great Sound, delivering a masterclass in high-speed drama as Spain and Australia emerged locked in a dead heat at the top of the leaderboard. Under a canopy of brilliant sunshine, the fourth event of the season provided a grueling test of both nerve and technical precision for the world's most elite foiling fleet.
The day began with heartbreak for the Swedish outfit, Artemis. Despite the near-perfect conditions, the team was forced to withdraw before the first gun had even fired. A mechanical issue during the pre-race warm-up proved terminal for their Saturday ambitions, leaving Nathan Outteridge’s crew as frustrated spectators on what promised to be a breakout day for the new team.
With one boat sidelined, Taylor Canfield and the U.S. SailGP Team seized the initiative in the opening race. Canfield dominated the first encounter to claim victory, successfully holding off a persistent challenge from Giles Scott in the Canada NorthStar boat. Erik Heil secured third for Germany, followed by Diego Botin of Spain and Dylan Fletcher for Emirates GBR.
In the second race, the legendary Tom Slingsby reminded the fleet why the BONDS Flying Roos remain the three-time champions. Slingsby executed a clinical tactical play at the first mark to seize a lead he would not relinquish. Denmark’s Nicolai Sehested chased hard to secure second place, while Diego Botin signaled his intent with a solid third. Giles Scott and Taylor Canfield rounded out the top five.
As the wind shifted slightly for the third race, it was Los Gallos who read the Great Sound best. Diego Botin delivered a masterclass in foiling control to snap up the win just ahead of a surging Slingsby. Erik Heil continued a remarkably consistent afternoon by claiming his second third-place finish of the day. Switzerland’s Sebastien Schneiter took fourth, just ahead of the ever-present Giles Scott.
The final race of the day saw Tom Slingsby bookend the afternoon with his second victory, but the real story was the emergence of Phil Robertson and the Red Bull Italy crew who surged through the pack to claim second. Taylor Canfield kept himself in the title hunt with a vital third-place finish, while Botin and Fletcher secured the remaining top-five spots.
As the fleet heads into Championship Sunday, the standings could not be tighter at the top. Both Diego Botin and Tom Slingsby sit on 32 points, meaning tomorrow’s fleet races will be a high-stakes duel for a spot in the winner-takes-all final. Taylor Canfield remains within striking distance on 28 points, while Erik Heil and Giles Scott sit tied for fourth with 25 points apiece. With lighter and more unpredictable winds forecast for tomorrow, the technical precision of the Spanish and Australian crews will be tested to the absolute limit.
