Great performance by the Blues of the Sail GP team in New Zealand

“It's finally happened!” We believed more in what we could do and it happened. “Next step: winning the final.” The words are signed by Quentin Delapierre, the happy and satisfied pilot of the France SailGP team after a successful stage in New Zealand. On the other side of the world, the French crew brilliantly finished second in the New Zealand Sailing Grand Prix, the third meeting of the 2024 season. The French team now sits in fourth place in the championship's provisional standings, just one point off the top spot. 3, their ultimate goal is to reach the grand final in San Francisco in July.

There is still a long way to go, but the French team has shown its full potential on the east coast of the country's South Island. Taking second place in the first regatta contested under about fifteen knots and in generous sunshine, the tri-colour boat was less comfortable in the process, falling to sixth place in the second race. But in the last race of the day, the Blues received a heavy blow as they took the lead over Spain, after passing the first buoy. Without touching the finish line, Quentin Delapierre and his young team (with 25 points in the three races) qualified for the triangular final alongside New Zealand (26 points), Peter Burling and Canada (24 points).

However, the New Zealanders soon showed their superiority in the final. The Blues had to settle for a promising silver medal for the future. “We wanted to win but I think we managed to put pressure on the New Zealanders and it wasn't easy for them. This second place comes at a perfect time and we are progressing well in the general classification. There is a lot of joy in the team. It's good for the tournament, even if San Francisco is still a long way off. “The dynamic within the team is really strong.” Quentin Delapierre explained. There are now four meetings remaining before the conclusion of a season that may be historic for France, in Bermuda, Halifax, New York and San Francisco.