“We don’t celebrate second”: USA deny Australia in Spanish Sail Grand Prix

The SailGP championship fight intensified in Valencia as the USA snatched a shock victory from Australia at the final mark. Championship leader Tom Slingsby made clear that second place was nothing to celebrate, while Emirates GBR lost ground with just three Grands Prix remaining.

Taylor Canfield secured a dramatic victory for the USA SailGP Team in Valencia, snatching the lead from the Bonds Flying Roos at the final mark of the event final.

It was the USA’s second Grand Prix win of the 2026 season, earning them the $400,000 prize and lifting them above Artemis and reigning champions Emirates GBR into third place in the championship standings.

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USA SailGP Team celebrate in Valencia ©SailGP

Image credit: Other Agency

Canfield’s team had entered the second day confident they had the pace to compete but were forced to fight until the final moments to take the victory.

”We knew we had what it took yesterday, and we came in today with a good plan and went out and executed,” Canfield said. 

”The pressure was on to make some moves in the final, and we did a great job handling the tactics. Everyone on board was spot-on, so yeah, we’re pumped.”

Australia refuse to celebrate second

Championship leaders Australia led for 95% of the final race and delivered an impressive performance, but despite a solid second place podium spot, driver Tom Slingsby expressed disappointment describing his decision at the final bottom-mark gate as an ”own goal”.

”That last bottom-mark gate decision, in hindsight, I look at it as an own goal,” he said.

”We don’t celebrate second place. I say to my team all the time, we’re not a team that celebrates second, and we’re different to others like that. And if they want to be in a team like that, they’re more than welcome to go. But we’re a team that expects a really high level, and we’re never going to apologise for that.

”I know we started unbelievably well, but that final decision there... we led the whole race, and then I made a bad call at the last bottom gate. I’m really frustrated that I made that call.

”I feel with my racing experience and age, I shouldn’t make a bad decision like that. But that’s what I did, and it cost us a win.”

Despite their disappointment, the Bonds Flying Roos extended their championship lead to 17 points over second-placed Los Gallos, and with only three Grands Prix remaining before the season finale it's looking good for the Australians. 

Spain’s home hopes fade

What had looked like a fairy-tale home event for Spain ended in disappointment after Los Gallos missed out on a place in the final.

Diego Botín’s team had led the racing on the opening day in Valencia but couldn't carry the momentum into Day 2.

The light winds provided an entirely different challenge to the blustery winds of Sassnitz, where the French SailGP Team recently broke the championship speed record by reaching 107km/h.

In Valencia, the focus was on keeping the boats flying on their foils. Falling off them could send a team rapidly down the fleet, with positions changing quickly in the ”snakes and ladders” of light-wind racing.

©SailGP

Image credit: Other Agency

Botín described the conditions as ”more stressful than flying at 100km/h”.


”It’s always special. Today we had massive support. That’s also why it hurts even more, the bad race we had today,” he said of competing in front of the home crowd.


”We feel super welcome here in Valencia. The fans have been amazing, even now that things haven’t gone right. They’re still trying to get a smile out of us and we just can’t say thank you enough.”


Emirates GBR face battle for place in final

Reigning champions Emirates GBR also left Valencia without the result they wanted as their fight to defend the title continued.

Dylan Fletcher’s team dropped a position following the USA’s victory, another blow in what has been a rollercoaster season for the Brits.

”Ultimately, we didn’t get it done and that’s painful for us,” Fletcher said. ”It was the points that we gave away yesterday that hurt, but looking into the rest of the season, it feels like we’re in a good place.

”We dropped down a place overall, but we’re closer to third place than we were. So I think from here on in, it’s going to be a big fight for that Grand Final third position."

Any of the top eight teams could still mathematically qualify for the Grand Final in Abu Dhabi, where only the leading three teams in the championship will compete in the winner-takes-all showdown.

The USA held that crucial third position after Valencia, but Sir Ben Ainslie’s Emirates GBR will have their next opportunity to respond when the championship heads to Geneva.

SailGP will return on September 19-20 for the Rolex Switzerland Sail Grand Prix in Geneva.

You can follow all the racing action live on TNT Sports and HBO Max.

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