SailGP: Canada triumphs with two wins as racing kicks off in Chicago

Driver Phil Robertson battled choppy waters and unpredictable wind shifts as Chicago lived up to its name as the ‘Windy City’ to claim two race wins and finish the day with 27 points.

Robertson’s team saw off fierce competition from Ben Ainslie’s Great Britain, who finished in close second with 26 points, and Peter Burling’s New Zealand, who finished third overall with 23 points.

It was a tricky day for flight controllers, who battled the unique challenges of freshwater racing and wind speeds of 32 km/h, with many struggling to keep their F50s under control.

Canada and Great Britain made consistently strong starts over the line, while Peter Burling scooped his fourth race win as New Zealand Driver in the first race of the day.

The narrow racecourse of Chicago Harbour saw teams jostle for space at congested marks, with many near collisions averted.

Meanwhile, it was an error-filled day for home favourites the United States, with Jimmy Spithill’s team finishing the day with an 8-9-7 racing record and finishing in overall last place.

Elsewhere, two-time champions Australia battled back from a seventh place finish in race one to finish second and third in races two and three, leaving them in fourth place overall heading into day two.

Racing resumes at 2pm CDT on Sunday, June 19. Click HERE for full broadcast information.

Text and images courtesy of SailGP.