New Zealand SailGP Team helmed by Peter Burling, Australia SailGP Team helmed by interim driver Jimmy Spithill and Canada SailGP Team helmed by Phil Robertson cross the finish line on Race Day 2 of the Emirates Sail Grand Prix in Dubai, United Arab Emirates on 10 December, 2023. Photo: SailGP / Ricardo Pinto
Despite finishing fifth at the Rockwool Canada Sail Grand Prix in Halifax, the Black Foils extended their overall lead in Season 4 after a chaotic final day of racing.
Giles Scott and the Great Britain team took the event win, coming into day two at the top of the event table and managing to hold it together best in the windy conditions in Canada.
Going up against France and Denmark, the Brits took the win in the final race by a clear margin securing Scott his first SailGP event victory.
The Black Foils missed the cut for Monday's final race scoring two 5ths, breaking their five-event podium streak.
Black Foils driver Peter Burling said he was frustrated they could not put it all together on the race track.
Race 4 started with a reduced fleet of seven boats after conditions made craning the F50s into the harbour too difficult, which forced a format change to get racing underway for the teams positioned top seven after day one.
The Black Foils were slow off the start and left fighting back from last, managing to pick up two positions for 5th.
Eight teams contested the last fleet race with the Black Foils still in the hunt for a spot in the final race but the Kiwis could not cut a break in the strong, variable and gusty winds.
Caught up in the pack, they crossed the line in 5th again and came away from the event with a 5th place.
However, their overall Season 4 Championship lead margin has extended by a point and the Black Foils are eleven points clear at the top of the leaderboard after 11 of 13 events.
Australia capsized on the last upwind leg of race 5, while leading. The boat has been recovered and the extent of the damage is being assessed.
Spain has edged past Australia to hold second place by a single point on the Season 4 leaderboard. Event 12 is in New York in three weeks' time.