British crew blaze ahead as Portsmouth crowd roars in SailGP opener
PORTSMOUTH, England - Emirates GBR skipper Dylan Fletcher delivered a masterclass in speed and consistency on Saturday to send his team to the top of the SailGP leaderboard after a commanding opening day on England's south coast.
Fletcher's crew won the first Portsmouth race and then never let up, collecting second, third and second place in the remaining heats.
By the end of the day, they had 36 points, comfortably ahead of Switzerland and Australia.
'We've had some tough events, so to be here and have a good Saturday, especially in front of a home crowd, is amazing,' said Fletcher.
'I'm really happy and proud of the team. But we know there's still a big job to do tomorrow.'
Despite a long list of podiums around the world, Britain have never won a SailGP event on home waters, a record Fletcher and his crew are desperate to break in Sunday's finale.
Fletcher is no stranger to big moments. Olympic gold in Tokyo, world title in 2017 and a seat at the helm of the INEOS Britannia America's Cup campaign—his sailing CV stands out in any crowd. He's been racing double-handed boats since his teens and has never looked back.
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The Portsmouth grandstand was packed as spectators enjoyed clear skies and unpredictable conditions, with shifting winds and coastal obstacles keeping teams on their toes.
France, meanwhile, saw their hopes dashed before racing began, forced to withdraw after a wing incident in training. All athletes were reported safe, but the setback is another blow for Quentin Delapierre's team, who were just starting to find form after missing the early rounds.
At the season's halfway mark, Spain lead the overall SailGP standings, followed by Australia and New Zealand. Emirates GBR are fourth overall.
The action continues on Sunday, with Fletcher's crew hoping to finally turn home advantage into a long-awaited British SailGP win.
SailGP is a high-speed, global sailing league where national teams race identical, cutting-edge F50 foiling catamarans at speeds approaching 100kph. REUTERS
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