Sailing-Spain take lead on day one of SailGP in New York

NEW YORK :Spain took the lead on day one of the sixth round of the SailGP season on Saturday, picking up the win in the opening race in New York as Diego Botin's team are well positioned for consecutive victories.
Defending series champions Spain, who won the San Francisco event in March, made it look easy despite light winds and strong tides as they took the first win of the day.
Competing against one of the most famous skylines in the world on the iconic Hudson River, they sailed away from the fleet and led at mark one before sealing a 14-second lead over second New Zealand on the finish line.
After a brilliant opening performance, Spain were off to a turbulent start in the second race but finished fourth, moving up from their last 12th position at the start line.
They started at the back once again in the third and last fleet race of the day but moved themselves up into the third to lead overnight on 25 points before day two of the event on Sunday.
Spain, led by Olympic champion driver Botin, are five points ahead of second-placed Denmark and France in third.
Australia and Brazil were going head to head in the second race before Tom Slingsby's team, now rebranded as the BONDS Flying Roos after new celebrity co-owners Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds were announced on Thursday, took the win.
New Zealand, winners in New York last year, won the third race but 11th spot in the second saw them finish fourth for the day.
The race was brought forward due to a storm forecast later in the day, and started two and a half hours earlier than originally scheduled.
The global racing championship is back into action after a wingsail defect forced a brief hiatus with the cancellation of May's Rio event.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

CNA

44 minutes ago

• CNA

Real coach Alonso backs Ruediger after he suffered alleged racist abuse

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina :Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso said he believed Antonio Ruediger when the player told him he was a victim of racist abuse during their 3-1 win against Mexican side Pachuca at the Club World Cup on Sunday. Referee Ramon Abatti crossed his forearms in front of his chest, which signals the activation of the anti-racism protocol, five minutes into stoppage time after a brief scuffle erupted following an apparent foul on Germany international Ruediger. Asked if Ruediger had been the victim of racism during the game, Alonso told a press conference: "That's what Ruediger said, and we believe him. "It is important to have zero tolerance in these kinds of situations. FIFA now is investigating. That's all I can say." It was not immediately clear whether the alleged abuse came from the crowd or an opponent. Soccer's governing body FIFA was not immediately in a position to clarify the incident when contacted by Reuters.

CNA

5 hours ago

• CNA

Yildiz double powers Juventus to 4-1 victory over Wydad Casablanca

PHILADELPHIA :Kenan Yildiz struck twice and played a key role in an own goal as Juventus secured a 4-1 win over Morocco's Wydad Casablanca in the Club World Cup on Sunday. The Italian side top Group G with six points after two matches, three clear of Manchester City, who play UAE's Al Ain later on Sunday. Both Al Ain and Wydad have no points. Juventus started brightly at Philadelphia's Lincoln Financial Field, taking the lead in the sixth minute. Yildiz was instrumental in the opener as his angled shot forced Wydad defender Abdelmounaim Boutouil to turn the ball into his own net in his attempt to block it. Ten minutes later, Yildiz unleashed a spectacular strike from the edge of the box into the top-right corner to give Juventus a 2-0 lead, but a mistake by the Italian defence gifted Thembinkosi Lorch a goal to reduce the deficit in the 25th minute. Juve, however, extended their lead again through Yildiz's brilliance, with the 20-year-old Turkish forward scoring their third goal from close-range in the 69th minute, with substitute Dusan Vlahovic wrapping up their commanding win from the penalty spot deep in added time.

CNA

8 hours ago

• CNA

American Kessler wins Nottingham Open final

American McCartney Kessler secured her third career title on Sunday, defeating Ukraine's Dayana Yastremska 6-4 7-5 in a rain-interrupted Nottingham Open final. Kessler, who recorded her first main draw tour-level win on grass earlier this month at Queen's, dominated the match from the outset and sealed victory in one hour and 34 minutes. "I'm super excited to have another title. I've gotten to another final, another great week of tennis for me. I want to start by congratulating Dayana on a good week as well," Kessler said. "She's a really tough competitor. We've had three really competitive matches, so congrats on a good week." The 25-year-old American outperformed Yastremska on serve in the first set, winning 17 of her 25 service points compared to the Ukrainian's 19 from 35 first serves. The second set went to 3-3 before Kessler fought off a spirited challenge from Yastremska to close it 7-5. Yastremska, the first Ukrainian player to reach a WTA Tour final on the surface in 17 years, was playing her second final of the year but fell short of clinching her first WTA title since 2019.