{"id":162056,"date":"2026-02-16T09:19:13","date_gmt":"2026-02-16T09:19:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.yachtingworld.com\/?p=162056"},"modified":"2026-02-17T10:22:08","modified_gmt":"2026-02-17T10:22:08","slug":"aussies-win-auckland-sailgp-as-injuries-overshadow-racing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.yachtingworld.com\/homepage\/aussies-win-auckland-sailgp-as-injuries-overshadow-racing-162056","title":{"rendered":"Aussies win Auckland SailGP as injuries overshadow racing"},"content":"<p data-path-to-node=\"0\">The race for the $2 million <a href=\"https:\/\/www.yachtingworld.com\/tag\/sailgp\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">SailGP 2026<\/a> prize purse continues this weekend as the circuit heads to South America for the first time this weekend at the Enel Rio Sail Grand Prix.<\/p>\r\nTaking place on 11\u201312 April 2026, the SailGP fleet will compete on the iconic and tactically challenging waters of Guanabara Bay. Here is everything you need to know to catch the high-speed foiling action against the spectacular backdrop of Sugarloaf Mountain.\r\n<h2>Rio SailGP 2026 Schedule &amp; Times<\/h2>\r\nRacing takes place on Saturday, 11 April and Sunday, 12 April. The broadcast window for both days is:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Local Time (BRT): 15:00 \u2013 16:30<\/li>\r\n \t<li>UK Time (BST): 19:00 \u2013 20:30<\/li>\r\n \t<li>US East Coast (ET): 14:00 \u2013 15:30<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Australia (AEST): 04:00 \u2013 05:30 (Monday morning)<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<div>[deal-block url=\"https:\/\/go.nordvpn.net\/aff_c?offer_id=564&amp;aff_id=3013&amp;source=yachtingworld&amp;aff_click_id=yachtingworld-gb-1442186019587181917&amp;aff_sub2=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.yachtingworld.com&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fnordvpn.com%2Fspecial%2F%3Fcoupon%3Dtechradar%26utm_medium%3Daffiliate%26utm_term%3D%26utm_content%26utm_source%3Daff3013%26utm_campaign%3Doff564\" image_url=\"https:\/\/keyassets.timeincuk.net\/inspirewp\/live\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/21\/2025\/11\/VnF7jLxiP2tFksCEBf5N8F-135x135-1-135x100.jpg\" image_id=\"161080\" cta_text=\"View Deal\"]<a href=\"https:\/\/go.nordvpn.net\/aff_c?offer_id=564&amp;aff_id=3013&amp;source=yachtingworld&amp;aff_click_id=yachtingworld-gb-1442186019587181917&amp;aff_sub2=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.yachtingworld.com&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fnordvpn.com%2Fspecial%2F%3Fcoupon%3Dtechradar%26utm_medium%3Daffiliate%26utm_term%3D%26utm_content%26utm_source%3Daff3013%26utm_campaign%3Doff564\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"sponsored noopener\" data-url=\"http:\/\/go.nordvpn.net\/aff_c?offer_id=564&amp;aff_id=3013&amp;url_id=10992\" data-hl-processed=\"hawklinks\" data-google-interstitial=\"false\" data-merchant-name=\"go.nordvpn.net\" data-merchant-id=\"0\" data-merchant-url=\"go.nordvpn.net\" data-merchant-network=\"\" data-custom-tracking-id=\"1443187742878877312\" data-hawk-tracked=\"hawklinks\"><strong>Watch SailGp from anywhere with a NordVPN subscription<\/strong><\/a>\r\n\r\nYachting World readers who are overseas when SailGP is taking place can pick u pa Nord VPN subscription and still get all the action. Nord VPN is ranked as the best VPN by our sister publications, TechRadar and Tom's Guide.\r\n\r\n[\/deal-block]<\/div>\r\n<h2>SailGP State of Play<\/h2>\r\nThe 2026 season is heating up with three different winners in the first three events. Heading into Rio:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Emirates Great Britain leads the standings with 28 points.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>BONDS Flying Roos (Australia), co-owned by Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds, sit in second with 25 points.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>The United States and Team France are tied for third with 20 points.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2>Team News: Returns and Absences<\/h2>\r\nThe fleet continues to feel the ripple effects of the catastrophic <a href=\"https:\/\/www.yachtingworld.com\/all-latest-posts\/catastrophic-crash-at-sailgp-auckland-leaves-two-sailors-injured-162031\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">collision in Auckland<\/a>.\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li><strong>France Returns:<\/strong> After missing the Sydney event due to extensive boat damage, the DS Automobiles SailGP Team France is back on the starting line. However, the lineup is reshuffled: New Zealander Liv McKay replaces the injured Manon Audinet as strategist, and legendary sailor Glenn Ashby steps in as wing trimmer for Leigh McMillan.<\/li>\r\n \t<li><strong>New Zealand Still Sidelined:<\/strong> Unfortunately, the New Zealand \u2018Black Foils\u2019 remain ruled out for Rio as their F50 catamaran was effectively destroyed in the Auckland incident.<\/li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Home Heroes:<\/strong> All eyes will be on the Mubadala Brazil SailGP Team, led by two-time Olympic champion Martine Grael. This is their first time racing on home waters, adding a massive local narrative to the event.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2>Free SailGP Viewing Options &amp; Geo-Restrictions<\/h2>\r\nSailGP has a strong history of offering free coverage through digital platforms, but this is subject to local broadcast rights.\r\n\r\n<strong>SailGP App:<\/strong> The official <a href=\"https:\/\/sailgp.com\/about\/sailgpapp\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">SailGP app<\/a> (available on <a href=\"https:\/\/go.redirectingat.com\/?id=92X1654857&amp;xcust=yachtingworld_gb_1821019918992019111&amp;xs=1&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fapps.apple.com%2Fus%2Fapp%2Fsailgp%2Fid1445011811&amp;sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.yachtingworld.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Apple<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/apps\/details?id=com.sailgp.secondscreen&amp;hl=en_GB\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Android<\/a>) often features live racing and replays. Access to the live feed is typically geo-blocked in territories where exclusive broadcasters (like TNT Sports in the UK or Sky Italia in Italy) have paid for the exclusive live rights.\r\n\r\n<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UC8Z3si9YuOzrJN-4dVpW5Jw\">YouTube<\/a> &amp; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/SailGP\/?locale=en_GB\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Facebook<\/a>:<\/strong> Live streaming is commonly available on the official SailGP YouTube and Facebook channels in countries without an exclusive live broadcaster. Countries like the US and Canada have often enjoyed free live streams on YouTube, while countries like the UK might see restrictions due to their paid-for exclusive TV deals.\r\n\r\n<strong>Free-to-Air Channels:<\/strong> In some territories, SailGP airs on free platforms. For example, in Australia, live races are often available on Kayo Freebies (a free tier of the Kayo Sports streaming service) and sometimes on SBS (which may show highlights or select live races).\r\n\r\n<img class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-161666\" src=\"https:\/\/keyassets.timeincuk.net\/inspirewp\/live\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/21\/2025\/11\/FD2_2712-630x354.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"630\" height=\"354\" \/>\r\n<h2>Free-to-Air SailGP Broadcasters<\/h2>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li data-path-to-node=\"14,0,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"14,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">New Zealand:<\/b> TVNZ (Check local listings for highlights and select coverage).<\/li>\r\n \t<li data-path-to-node=\"14,0,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"14,1,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Australia:<\/b> SBS and SBS On Demand provide free-to-air coverage, including highlights and select live rounds.<\/li>\r\n \t<li data-path-to-node=\"14,0,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"14,2,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\"><span class=\"citation-1441\">Germany:<\/span><\/b><span class=\"citation-1441 citation-end-1441\"> ZDF is the official free-to-air partner. It will broadcast events and highlights, including live coverage of the German event later this season.<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li data-path-to-node=\"14,0,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"14,3,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\"><span class=\"citation-1440\">USA:<\/span><\/b><span class=\"citation-1440 citation-end-1440\"> CBS (the main network) will broadcast event highlights on key weekends. However, most li<\/span><span class=\"citation-1438 citation-1439 citation-end-1439\">ve daily coverage has moved to the CBS Sports Network (subscription).<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li data-path-to-node=\"14,0,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"14,4,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\"><span class=\"citation-1436 citation-1437\">Brazil:<\/span><\/b><span class=\"citation-1436 citation-1437 citation-end-1437\"> Globo provides free-to-air coverage, though for some sports properties in 2026, they are splitting the season between free broadcasts on TV Globo and paid coverage on SporTV.<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li data-path-to-node=\"14,0,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"14,5,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\"><span class=\"citation-1434 citation-1435\">Global:<\/span><\/b><span class=\"citation-1434 citation-1435 citation-end-1435\"> YouTube and Facebook typically offer free live s<\/span><span class=\"citation-1434 citation-end-1434\">treams in many territories where exclusive broadcast rights do not prohibit it.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2>Subscription \/ Pay-TV Broadcasters<\/h2>\r\n<strong>United Kingdom:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/go.redirectingat.com\/?id=92X1654857&amp;xcust=yachtingworld_gb_3034711552407068201&amp;xs=1&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.discoveryplus.com%2Fgb%2Fen%2Fwatch-tnt-sports-on-discoveryplus%3Futm_campaign%3Dbrand%26utm_medium%3Dpaidsearch%26utm_source%3Dsearch%26gad_source%3D1%26gad_campaignid%3D20377291382%26gbraid%3D0AAAAACz5BIQYlUOHyt5ybfhIjKq7Uzv5U%26gclid%3DCjwKCAiAraXJBhBJEiwAjz7MZf-rkF5e8alznT8G9g52PvwsG-20ZqPhBm5L90dGAE8Hwr5XK4XjBhoCZT0QAvD_BwE&amp;sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.yachtingworld.com%2Fevents-2%2Fhow-to-watch-the-sailgp-2025-finale-all-the-tv-streaming-details-for-the-final-161076\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">TNT Sports<\/a> is now the exclusive home of SailGP in the UK, meaning coverage is no longer free-to-air on ITV as it was in previous years.\r\n<strong>Australia (Alternative):<\/strong> Fox Sports and <a href=\"https:\/\/goto.kayosports.com.au\/c\/338476\/515039\/8808?subId1=yachtingworld-gb-2143622457405029095&amp;sharedId=yachtingworld-gb&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fkayosports.com.au%2Ffreebies\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Kayo Sports<\/a> require a subscription, though they offer premium, ad-break-free coverage.\r\n<strong>USA (Live):<\/strong> While the main CBS network shows highlights, the live daily racing is primarily on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbssports.com\/cbssports\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">CBS Sports Network<\/a>.\r\n<strong>New Zealand:<\/strong> Sky Sport NZ is a subscription-based service.\r\n<strong>Italy &amp; Spain:<\/strong> Both <a href=\"https:\/\/go.redirectingat.com\/?id=92X1654857&amp;xcust=yachtingworld_gb_4369058680037077150&amp;xs=1&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sky.it%2F&amp;sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.yachtingworld.com%2Fevents-2%2Fhow-to-watch-the-sailgp-2025-finale-all-the-tv-streaming-details-for-the-final-161076\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Sky Italia<\/a> and Movistar are premium pay-TV platforms.\r\n<h2>How to watch SailGP from Anywhere Using a VPN<\/h2>\r\nYou don\u2019t need to worry about missing any of the high-speed action, even if you\u2019re travelling overseas while the races are taking place.\r\n\r\nBy using a VPN (or Virtual Private Network), you can avoid the geo-blocking restrictions that might otherwise get in the way of watching your usual streaming services or accessing the free live feeds when you\u2019re in another country.\r\n\r\n<strong>How a VPN Helps:<\/strong> VPNs have the useful ability to change your IP address, making your laptop, smartphone, or tablet appear to be back home. This means you can tune into the event, even when you\u2019re thousands of miles away from your sitting room. If you are in a country with a restricted feed (like the UK or Italy), connecting to a VPN server in a country that offers a free YouTube stream (such as the US or Canada) can potentially allow you to watch the Grand Final for free.\r\n\r\nThere are plenty of VPNs out there, but the tech experts at\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.techradar.com\/vpn\/best-vpn\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.techradar.com\/vpn\/best-vpn\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-hawk-tracked=\"hawklinks\">TechRadar<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/reviews\/nordvpn-review#section-nordvpn-review-final-verdict\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/reviews\/nordvpn-review#section-nordvpn-review-final-verdict\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-hawk-tracked=\"hawklinks\">Tom\u2019s Guide<\/a>\u00a0both believe that <a href=\"https:\/\/go.nordvpn.net\/aff_c?offer_id=564&amp;aff_id=3013&amp;source=yachtingworld&amp;aff_click_id=yachtingworld-gb-1263459311991197112&amp;aff_sub2=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.yachtingworld.com&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fnordvpn.com%2Fcountry%2Fbritain%2F%3Fvpn%3Dbrand%26nc%3DSearch_-_UK_-_Brand_-_Exact%2BPhrase_-_En_-_D_-_GBP%26ns%3Dgoogle%26nm%3Dcpc%26nt%3Dnordvpn%26na%3D93851363969%26gad_source%3D1%26gad_campaignid%3D9009614339%26gbraid%3D0AAAAADwsNkTs6Xj2YulkCDTaA_IHyex1Z%26gclid%3DCjwKCAiAraXJBhBJEiwAjz7MZaMAC-YwSEt803GZapHA1kDUzSaVGUr19505tvSSfqLmXbCyxWfZ3RoCQAsQAvD_BwE\">NordVPN<\/a> is top of the world rankings, with top-notch streaming and security features and a 30-day money-back guarantee.\r\n<div>\r\n<div>[deal-block url=\"https:\/\/go.nordvpn.net\/aff_c?offer_id=564&amp;aff_id=3013&amp;source=yachtingworld&amp;aff_click_id=yachtingworld-gb-1442186019587181917&amp;aff_sub2=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.yachtingworld.com&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fnordvpn.com%2Fspecial%2F%3Fcoupon%3Dtechradar%26utm_medium%3Daffiliate%26utm_term%3D%26utm_content%26utm_source%3Daff3013%26utm_campaign%3Doff564\" image_url=\"https:\/\/keyassets.timeincuk.net\/inspirewp\/live\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/21\/2025\/11\/VnF7jLxiP2tFksCEBf5N8F-135x135-1-135x100.jpg\" image_id=\"161080\" cta_text=\"View Deal\"]<a href=\"https:\/\/go.nordvpn.net\/aff_c?offer_id=564&amp;aff_id=3013&amp;source=yachtingworld&amp;aff_click_id=yachtingworld-gb-1442186019587181917&amp;aff_sub2=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.yachtingworld.com&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fnordvpn.com%2Fspecial%2F%3Fcoupon%3Dtechradar%26utm_medium%3Daffiliate%26utm_term%3D%26utm_content%26utm_source%3Daff3013%26utm_campaign%3Doff564\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"sponsored noopener\" data-url=\"http:\/\/go.nordvpn.net\/aff_c?offer_id=564&amp;aff_id=3013&amp;url_id=10992\" data-hl-processed=\"hawklinks\" data-google-interstitial=\"false\" data-merchant-name=\"go.nordvpn.net\" data-merchant-id=\"0\" data-merchant-url=\"go.nordvpn.net\" data-merchant-network=\"\" data-custom-tracking-id=\"1443187742878877312\" data-hawk-tracked=\"hawklinks\"><strong>Watch SailGp from anywhere with a NordVPN subscription<\/strong><\/a>\r\n\r\nYachting World readers who are overseas when SailGP is taking place can pick u pa Nord VPN subscription and still get all the action. Nord VPN is ranked as the best VPN by our sister publications, TechRadar and Tom's Guide.\r\n\r\n[\/deal-block]<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<h2>Final Viewing Tip<\/h2>\r\nDue to the dynamic nature of broadcast agreements, the most definitive source for \"How to Watch\" in any specific country will always be the <a href=\"https:\/\/sailgp.com\/general\/how-to-watch\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">official SailGP website's dedicated 'How to Watch'<\/a> page closer to the event date. This page provides the final, up-to-date listings for every region.\r\n\r\n[jwplayer key=\"v8hR9pPj\"]","excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Tom Slingsby and his Australian team claimed victory at the ITM New Zealand SailGP this weekend, though the event was defined more by a violent opening-day collision than the final results. The Australians secured their second consecutive win on the Waitemat\u0101 Harbour, managing a rain-soaked final against Emirates GBR and Spain. However, the racing took a backseat to the fallout from a high-speed crash between the New Zealand and French F50s that left two athletes hospitalised. Serious Injuries Confirmed The collision occurred during the first leg of Race 3 on Saturday. Organisers have confirmed that Black Foils grinder Louis Sinclair sustained compound fractures to both legs and remains in stable condition. DS Automobiles Team France strategist Manon Audinet was also injured after being thrown forward into the steering wheel. As of Monday morning (UK time) she was being assessed for abdominal injuries. Both teams were forced to withdraw from the event due to significant structural damage to their boats. Tactical Shifts in High Winds Following the crash and a forecast for heavier gusts, officials moved to a &#8220;split-fleet&#8221; format for the first time. The 11 teams were divided into two groups to provide more space on the water. Despite the safety measures, the conditions remained punishing. 25 knot gusts pushed the boats and crews hard. Great Britain\u2019s Dylan Fletcher commented on the intensity of the day after racing mentioning &#8220;some pretty loose moments&#8221; as teams struggled to maintain control in the rising breeze. Article continues below&#8230; The Final Results In the three-boat final, the Spanish team Los Gallos led early after a clean start. However, Slingsby&#8217;s Australians found an opening at the top mark to take the lead. A late move by Emirates GBR allowed them to overtake Spain on the line for second place, but they couldn&#8217;t close the gap on the Australians. The result leaves Australia and Emirates GBR tied at the top of the overall season standings with 17 points each. If you enjoyed this\u2026. Yachting World is the world&#8217;s leading magazine for bluewater cruisers and offshore sailors. Every month we have inspirational adventures and practical features to help you realise your sailing dreams. Build your knowledge with a subscription delivered to your door. See our latest offers and save at least 30% off the cover price. Note: We may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site, at no extra cost to you. This doesn\u2019t affect our editorial independence.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3349,"featured_media":162058,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[20],"tags":[3080,2133,1633],"review_manufacturer":[],"acf":[],"introduction":null,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.yachtingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/162056"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.yachtingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.yachtingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.yachtingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3349"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.yachtingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=162056"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.yachtingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/162056\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":162059,"href":"https:\/\/www.yachtingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/162056\/revisions\/162059"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.yachtingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/162058"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.yachtingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=162056"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.yachtingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=162056"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.yachtingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=162056"},{"taxonomy":"review_manufacturer","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.yachtingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/review_manufacturer?post=162056"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}