New Zealand wins SailGP Season 4 opener in Chicago

 

In light winds off Navy Pier New Zealand best mastered tough conditions in front of packed shorelines to win the season-opening Rolex United States Sail Grand Prix in Chicago. Peter Burling led his team to victory over Tom Slingsby's Australia and Phil Robertson's Canada in the first three-boat event final of Season 4.

Canada finished fifth and second in the fleet races on day two which was enough to make it into the final, but the team never managed to get in front of its southern hemisphere rivals.

Elsewhere ROCKWOOL Denmark SailGP Team opened the season with a solid fourth place finish, one spot ahead of Botin's Spain. France, Emirates GBR and Switzerland occupied positions six through eight, while newcomers Germany found it tough going in the conditions to finish tenth.

Season 4 continues with the inaugural Oracle Los Angeles Sail Grand Prix | Port of Los Angeles on July 22-23. Tickets are available at SailGP.com/LosAngeles.

SailGP Season 4 Championship Standings (after one event) //

1 // New Zealand // 10 points

2 // Australia // 9 points

3 // Canada // 8 points

4 // ROCKWOOL Denmark // 7 points

5 // Spain // 6 points

6 // France // 5 points

7 // Emirates GBR // 4 points

8 // Switzerland // 3 points

9 // United States // 2 points

10 // Germany // 1 point