SailGP Sydney: Black Foils show improvements but equal worst-ever finish

After a horror start to this weekend’s SailGP regatta in Sydney, Black Foils driver Peter Burling said day two would be about limiting the damage on the leaderboard.

Whether or not they accomplished that mission could well remain up for debate long into the season.

After ending the opening day of the event ninth on the ladder with just seven points and a seventh being their best result from the four races, the Black Foils finished the event in eighth, securing just three points towards their season total.

An eighth-placed finish ties the worst in the team’s history, matching their mark from last season’s event in France where their wingsail collapsed and they did not compete in the final two races.

While that was the case, the Black Foils will be happy with the quick turnaround in performance after it seemed like very little went their way on day one.

They did, however, lose ground on Great Britain and Australia at the top of the leaderboard.

Dylan Fletcher continued his remarkable return to SailGP with the British team, leading them to their first win of the season, topping Canada and Australia in the final. They are the only team to have featured in all three podium races so far this season, now with a first, second and third.

Great Britain took the outright lead for the season with 27 points after the win, from Australia on 24, with Spain and the Black Foils tied on 20.

The Kiwis made an immediate mark on Sunday, finishing second in the day’s opening race, before winning the second and finishing fifth in the third.

While they missed out on the podium race, it was a remarkable turnaround from their performance on day one.

More pace off the line at the start for the Kiwis. While they were towards the back of the fleet, they found passing lanes on the course and quickly clawed places back.

By the midway point of the race they were contesting for the lead, however Great Britain were able to keep them at bay and take the win.

In the day’s second race, the Kiwis absolutely flew off the start line, getting to the front of the fleet at the first mark and leading for the entire race. After a day where they made mistakes and unforced errors, it was a welcome reprieve to see them sail at their best.

The third race of the day went rather fortunately for the Black Foils who, after a slow start, found themselves in the front half of the fleet on the third leg after a traffic jam at the gate saw five teams jostling for positions and coming close to colliding with one another.

The Kiwis were able to maintain their position, closing out a fifth-placed finish.

Improving their event total from seven to 32 on Sunday, the performance will give them a platform to build on as the league turns its attention to the US leg, with events in Los Angeles and San Francisco in March.

Christopher Reive joined the Herald sports team in 2017, bringing the same versatility to his coverage as he does to his sports viewing habits.