Today's Edition
KUUMAR SHYAM (ABU DHABI)
When the going gets tough, the tough get going – and on Sunday in Abu Dhabi, no one embodied that old sporting truth more vividly than Dylan Fletcher, the lead driver of Emirates Great Britain.
A year after losing his seat and watching the SailGP circuit from the sidelines, the Briton finally got to underline his comeback season with a trophy, and a total series prize money of $4.4 million to boot for him and his team.
By dusk on the backwaters near Port Zayed in Abu Dhabi, he had not only proved it but written himself into the league's history books, steering Emirates Great Britain to their first SailGP championship title in a Grand Final defined by nerves, noise and knife-edge decision-making.
Regulars said it has been one of the most exciting ones in the five years of the championship.
Fletcher and his crew arrived at the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Sail Grand Prix season finale, peaking to the top in the penultimate round in Cadiz, Spain, but coming under pressure straight away in the final round of fleet racing before the top three contested the winner-takes-all championship title.
Their performances in the fleet races had been far from emphatic – sixth across the six qualifying heats – but it was enough to secure a place in the three-boat shootout alongside New Zealand's Black Foils and the Bonds Flying Roos of Australia.
From there, it became a matter of heart, precision and timing. The Black Foils, finished second, earning $1.76m overall and the Flying Roos took home $1.2m.
"It was an unbelievable final," Fletcher said, still breathless moments after crossing the line. "All three teams were amazing; any one of us could have won, but I'm just over the moon right now. What a team, what a year… I'm stoked."
The finale began at a pace. Tom Slingsby's men burst off the start with trademark aggression, briefly snatching control of the race before disaster struck – the Australians dropped off their foils, losing speed and gifting their rivals a clear path.
Peter Burling and the Black Foils were quickest to exploit the mistake, stretching to a commanding 200-metre lead that, at first glance, looked unassailable. But this was Fletcher's moment, and he was unwilling to let it slip.
Emirates GBR clawed back – from third, then into second – and as the boats approached the final upwind leg, the British made the bold call that changed everything. Fletcher split away to the right, taking the opposite gate to his rivals.
It was a tactical gamble requiring absolute trust from his crew and flawless execution. Within seconds, it was clear it had paid off.
Emirates GBR accelerated towards the final turn with clean air, high speed and a line to the finish that neither Burling nor Slingsby could match. Fletcher's team also claimed the Impact League title for social causes for the second time in the short history of SailGP.
Slingsby, whose team has been in the spotlight for having actor owners Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman, kept a brave face having led the standings before Team Emirates snuck in.
"When we compared the winnings of finishing anything other than first, the pay-off wasn't exciting at all; so we decided to go all out, like you said, take the risky approach," Slingsby told Aletihad.
"It didn't work out, but the crew has been amazing. It is our fault that we let the lead slip away, and again today. It has been great for the support we have had and we will try to be better next year."
There will be little time for teams to dwell. "We will enjoy and party over Christmas, but there is not much rest after that for us, I guess. The 2026 season restarts in just weeks after that [Perth to host the opener on 17–18 January]."
