Incredible comeback for the Canadians to Win the New Zealand Sail Grand Prix!

 

Mar 23, 2023

After hitting their podium in their first two events in this, CAN SailGP’s inaugural season, winning results have been scarce for the Canadians.  But this weekend, the Canadians were the ones to watch, consistently moving up the leaderboard and challenging the hometown favourites.  Having overcome the huge setback following on from the severe weather incident in Sydney last month, the Canadians showed true resiliency and that SPIRIT was back in full force.

Racing got underway on Saturday afternoon in Lyttelton Harbour with picture perfect conditions.  Consistent and strong starts for driver Phil Robertson and the crew, meant solid finishes (5,3,1) that translated to second place after day one. 

Heading into day two, it was critical that the Canadians stay ahead of France and Great Britain to ensure a place in the finals.  Phil Robertson and the crew did just that, finishing sixth and fourth, just what was needed to advance to the finals alongside the home team (NZL) and season leader’s Australia.

Canadians win 400It’s been a few events since the Canadians were in the finals, but Phil and the crew onboard SPIRIT executed a near perfect final race, with fewer manoeuvres and averaging higher speeds than the Australians and the New Zealanders.  Robertson’s match racing skills came in handy and the Canadians maintained a steady lead throughout.  There was a heart wrenching moment on leg five, and a risk that the Kiwis would surge ahead, when the Canadians incurred a boundary penalty.  As it turned out, the penalty meant one less turn for the Canadians and they sailed clearly to the finish to win the first ever event for Canada!

The team applauded SailGP Technologies’ Herculean effort to get SPIRIT back on the start line after Sydney, without their efforts and those of the SailGP Tech Team, none of this would have been possible.  

Sights are now set on the Grand Final in San Francisco on 6-7 May.  

 

CREW LIST // ITM NEW ZEALAND SAIL GRAND PRIX – CHRISTCHURCH

  Phil Robertson / Driver

  Chris Draper / Wing Trimmer

  Billy Gooderham / Flight Controller

  Tim Hornsby / Grinder

  Tom Ramshaw / Grinder

  Graeme Sutherland / Grinder

  Isabella Bertold / Strategist

ITM NEW ZEALAND SAIL GRAND PRIX | CHRISTCHURCH  // 

Final in san francisco 400EVENT RESULTS

1 // Canada   

2 // New Zealand  

3 // Australia 

4 // Emirates Great Britain

5 // France 

6 // United States 

7 // Switzerland 

8 // Denmark 

9 // Spain 

Related Articles

Marblehead to Halifax the “Grand-daddy” of Ocean Races

Marblehead to Halifax the “Grand-daddy” of Ocean Races

The co-chair of the 2015 edition of the Marblehead to Halifax Ocean Race, David Stanfield likes to call this ocean race “the Grand-daddy of them all”.  Stanfield is referring to the fact that MHOR goes all the way back to 1905, a year before the Newport Bermuda Race started and several decades before races like the Fastnet or Sydney-Hobart were conceived.

 

London Olympics 2012 Day 5 for Canadian Sailing Team

London Olympics 2012 Day 5 for Canadian Sailing Team

We had stronger winds today at 20-25 knots from the SW. Perfect sailing conditions. There was even a little sun 🙂 The courses further from shore have quite large waves in the afternoon as the current from the tide was opposing the wind direction. This made from some fantastic rides for the 470, Finn and Star racing. Tomorrow should be back to the typical 10-15 knot range with possible gusts to 18. The Laser and Radial fleets had a day off today.

Alan Leibel of National Yacht Club Wins Int’l 2.4mR NA Championships

Alan Leibel of National Yacht Club Wins Int’l 2.4mR NA Championships

With fairly consistent easterly winds ranging from 4 to 12 kts, the International 2.4mR North American Championships finished today at The Royal Hamilton Yacht Club, Hamilton, Ontario. Oscillating shifts kept the sailors busy especially in the third race when the wind produced 12 kt gusts.

The second race brought out the black flag by CRO Anne Sanderson and the fleet fell quickly into line.

2011 CORK Fall Regatta and Great Lakes Championships Results

2011 CORK Fall Regatta and Great Lakes Championships Results

After a full weekend of racing, the 2011 Cork Fall Regatta and Great Lakes Championships has come to a close.

After a total of five races in the Laser fleet, local sailor and Canadian national team sailor, Robert Davis from the Kingston Yacht Club is the new Great Lakes Champion ahead of fellow Queen’s engineering students, Evert McLaughlin and Matthew Ryder (Toronto, Ontario). The overall winner and Great Lakes Champion of the Laser Radial class is Malcolm Lamphere (Lake Forest Illinois).

Olympic Sailors at Chester Race Week

Olympic Sailors at Chester Race Week

Chester Race Week made a special announcement to the racers amassed in front of the Chester Yacht Club during the post race debriefing; competing in this year’s regatta were 10 Olympians and one Olympic coach. A loud yell of support and recognition was given by the competitors as the Olympians had their pictures taken in front of CYC. Many of the Olympians were at Chester organizing this big event and many were out there competing.

The 1976 Olympic Soling Team of Andreas Josenhans, Glen Dexter, and Sandy Macmillan, were well represented with Andreas as the Principal Race Officer, Sandy racing on Brilliance (J120), and Glen racing on Odyssey (Swan 57).

Video Gallery

New Boats: Beneteau Oceanis 34.1 – A Sleek, Good -Looking Delight To Sail

By Katherine Stone

There is nothing more that I enjoy than being with friends and messing about in boats. Messing about in brand-new boats on a champagne sailing day on Lake Ontario at the beginning of the summer doesn’t get any better. To have the new owner, Helmuth Strobel and Anchor Yachts dealer Pancho Jimenez aboard made it even more special, as they can also speak to what they truly enjoy about the boat. We keep our own boat in a harbour that has a long waiting list for boats over 35 feet, so this little gem would definitely fit the bill and feels like a much bigger boat. True to the spirit of the 7th generation Oceanis line, the 34.1 is built in Poland and replaces the 35.1. It is 1,000 lbs lighter, 14 cm narrower and has 29% more sail area.

Read More

Destinations

Peter Island Resort in the British Virgin Islands has Reopened

Peter Island Resort in the British Virgin Islands has opened its rebuilt and re-envisioned luxury private island in 2024 after the property closures from the Virgin Islands’ 2017 hurricane season. Peter Island Resort has been undergoing its transformation for over six years. Its evolution includes brand new and upgraded accommodations and new state-of-the-art facilities and five stellar beaches amid hundreds of acres of unspoiled tropical island.

Peter Island Yacht Club

The new Yacht Club will be a must on the itineraries of sailors, boaters and yachtsmen with a marina that can accommodate a range of vessels from power boats, sailboats and catamarans, to super yachts of up to 200 feet. Located in Sprat Bay harbor, the Yacht Club will be its own destination with a dedicated swimming pool for Yacht Club guests, Drunken Pelican restaurant and bar, a commissary, Sea Chest Boutique and a sports recreation area with pickleball, basketball and bocce ball courts and a lawn-games area. To protect the coral reef and marine life surrounding the island, moorings will be located in White Bay, Sprat Bay, Deadman’s Bay…

Read More

Lifestyle