The Spain SailGP Team has finally claimed the title it had been chasing for months. After competing in five consecutive finals without being able to seal the deal, the team led by Diego Botín claimed victory this Sunday at the Canada Grand Prix, delivering a memorable performance on the waters off Halifax and solidifying its bid for the Rolex SailGP Championship title.
The day began with one of the most spectacular maneuvers of the season. Forced to make a comeback after a difficult entry into the pre-start box, Los Gallos opted for a risky maneuver just seconds before crossing the starting line. The F50 Victoria found the only available gap between Australia and France and surged into it to take the lead. The gamble paid off perfectly: Spain dominated the race from start to finish and secured a crucial victory that moved it ahead of New Zealand in the provisional standings.
With a spot in the final still up for grabs, the weekend’s final fleet race turned into a head-to-head battle against Peter Burling’s New Zealand team. Spain needed to finish ahead of New Zealand to secure its place in the final and had to do so from a difficult position after a less-than-ideal start.
Botín’s team kept up the pressure throughout the race and reached the final buoy right on the heels of their rivals. In the decisive final meters, Burling tried to slow down the Spanish team’s progress to help Denmark overtake them—a scenario that would have eliminated Spain. However, Los Gallos held on until the very end, and an extremely close finish—decided by a photo finish—confirmed their qualification for what was already their fifth consecutive final of the season.
The Canadian Grand Prix final remained just as intense. Spain once again pulled off a flawless start and took the lead right from the start, although it had to fend off constant attacks from Switzerland, Australia, and, especially, Sweden.
The Scandinavians were tied with the Spanish team at the penultimate mark, keeping the outcome in doubt until the very last moments. That’s when the F50 Victoria showed its best form. A final leg executed with precision allowed Los Gallos to overtake the Swedes at the final buoy and cross the finish line in first place, sealing a victory that was as hard-fought as it was expected.
The victory in Halifax also has significant implications for the overall standings. Spain has earned ten points in the Rolex SailGP Championship and has moved up to second place in the championship, overtaking the United States and Great Britain and establishing itself as one of the top contenders for the title.
The competition will return on July 25 and 26 with the Portsmouth Grand Prix, the eighth race of the season. After that, there will be only two events left before the series arrives in Valencia, scheduled for September 5 and 6. For Los Gallos, Canada may have been much more than just a victory—it may have been the turning point of the season.
