The Black Foils have once again narrowly missed out on SailGP glory, finishing third in the season five grand final shootout behind champions Great Britain and runners-up Australia.
Although the three frontrunners had struggled for form through much of the weekend, improved foiling conditions on the final day produced a dramatic finale in which all three crews briefly held the lead.
The decisive moment came when Great Britain split the course at the third gate and found stronger breeze to surge ahead, with driver Dylan Fletcher holding on for victory and rekindling his rivalry with New Zealand’s Peter Burling and Blair Tuke.
The result capped a challenging week for the Kiwis, who dealt with Burling’s finger injury, equipment damage and overnight repairs, while Denmark claimed the Abu Dhabi regatta title after a consistent fleet racing performance.
