Nail-Biter in the Bay: Spain Clinches SailGP Title Against All Odds

How Diego Botin's Team Claimed the Season 4 Championship In an epic twist, Spain shocked the sailing world by defeating top-tier teams Australia and New Zealand to claim the Season 4 Championship title in a heart-pounding Grand Final on the iconic San Francisco Bay! The Race Highlights: Nail-Biting Finish : Spain, led by the fearless Diego Botin, clinched the Grand Final after a fierce battle with France, securing the crucial inside line at Mark 1 and setting the pace for an intense showdown. Top Speed : Spain pushed their F50 to the limit, hitting an impressive top speed of 90 km/h. Despite Australia and New Zealand breathing down their necks, the Spanish team maintained their lead with stellar maneuvers and strategic sailing. Drama on the Water : The race was packed with drama. On the penultimate leg, Australia faced a setback with a messy maneuver that caused them to fall off their foils. Even though they quickly regained speed, Spain managed to rebuild momentum just in time to cross the finish line first, ending Australia's three-championship winning streak. Stat Breakdown : Spain sailed the shortest distance (10.5 km), executed the fewest maneuvers (5), and had a lower average speed (62.3 km/h) compared to Australia (62.4 km/h) and New Zealand (63 km/h). Despite these statistics, their precision and strategy secured their victory. Driver Diego Botin, visibly elated, shared humbly, "We were lucky. We just managed to stay in front." He revealed that the team broke a rudder during the last downwind leg, adding to the incredible nature of their victory. "I was quite nervous because in the last jibe we got something in the rudder and the feeling was very bad. Australia was close to us and I thought we might be in a bad situation, but when we looked back we saw they were far away and we knew we would win." "I can't describe the feeling now - it's such a big pump of adrenaline. I can't believe we did it in Bermuda and here again in the Grand Final in San Francisco." - Diego Botin The Journey: Spain's win is nothing short of miraculous, considering they finished last in Season 3. Their turnaround began with a disruptive crew reshuffle, leading to significant gains throughout Season 4. They celebrated their first-ever event win in Los Angeles, followed by a stunning performance in Bermuda, and ultimately, their triumphant finish in San Francisco. Reflecting on their journey, Botin said, "I can't describe the feeling now - it's such a big pump of adrenaline. I can't believe we did it in Bermuda and here again in the Grand Final in San Francisco." In a dramatic turn of events, Diego Botin led Spain to their first SailGP Championship title during the Season 4 Grand Final in San Francisco. This victory marked a significant milestone for the young team, who had finished last in the previous season. The success of the Spanish team was greatly attributed to the unwavering support and belief of SailGP CEO Russell Coutts. Botin and Coutts' collaboration and resilience played a crucial role in overcoming the season's challenges, including a last-minute rudder break during the final race. "Russel believed in a very young team with no experience in this type of racing and we’ve gone through very hard moments. He was the only one telling us ‘guys, you will get there' and without him we could not have done what we have done today." - Diego Botin on Russell Coutts support What’s Next? Get ready for more high-octane action! The 2024/25 Season kicks off this November, promising even more thrilling races and spectacular performances. Don’t miss out—register your interest now and be part of the SailGP excitement! Don’t Miss Out: Race Replays : Relive the electrifying moments from the Grand Final in San Francisco. Crash Alert : Witness the intense crash between France and ROCKWOOL DEN in a season-ending collision. Behind the Scenes : Get exclusive insights as Botin pays tribute to SailGP CEO Russell Coutts and shares more details from the Grand Final.