Spain’s Los Gallos secured victory at the Emirates Great Britain Sail Grand Prix on the Solent, completing a second consecutive triumph after their recent success in Halifax. The regatta, staged off Southsea, finished in blustery conditions that tested crews across the fleet.
Final day drama on the Solent
The four-boat final came down to close margins as Los Gallos beat Artemis, Explora Swiss and NorthStar in a contest that reflected the weekend’s strong gusts and tactical demands. The victory strengthens Spain’s position in the Rolex SailGP Championship standings, bringing them closer to Australia’s Bonds Flying Roos.
“An amazing weekend – with the conditions we had – very windy, with a small wing, which we love. It was amazing to get the win back to back after Halifax; it felt like we were gelling as a team in every aspect.”
The quote above came from winning driver Diego Botín, who celebrated the team’s performance ashore after the final.
Consistency rewards Artemis
Artemis pressed consistently throughout the weekend and finished second in Portsmouth. The team collected more event points than any other crew on the weekend — 19 points — and that steady return has now elevated them to third place in the overall championship, passing the United States and Emirates GBR.
Canada’s NorthStar SailGP Team produced a solid showing too, taking third in the event final — their second event final of the season. The Explora Journeys Swiss SailGP Team rounded out the final in fourth place.
Setbacks for last year’s winners
New Zealand’s Black Foils, winners in Portsmouth last year, endured a tougher weekend. Penalties in one of the group races dropped them down the leaderboard and they finished the event in fifth. That result leaves the Black Foils outside the leading positions in the season table as teams regroup after a testing weekend of high winds and tight margins.
- Winner: Los Gallos (Spain)
- Second: Artemis
- Third: NorthStar (Canada)
- Fourth: Explora Swiss
- Fifth: Black Foils (New Zealand)
| Position | Team |
|---|---|
| 1 | Los Gallos |
| 2 | Artemis |
| 3 | NorthStar |
For Portsmouth, the event again showcased the city as a venue for high-speed foiling racing and attracted international teams to the Solent, with local spectators witnessing the technical demands of the 18-metre wingsail boats in strong breeze.
As the SailGP championship progresses, the Portsmouth round will be remembered for its testing conditions and the way it reshaped the standings — notably letting Los Gallos consolidate momentum and giving Artemis a noteworthy boost through consistency.
