Emirates GBR Claims Perth SailGP Opener Amid Fremantle Doctor Fury

Emirates Great Britain sailed to victory in Perth, overcoming a punishing Fremantle Doctor to claim the winner-takes-all final and take the opening round of the 2026 SailGP season. The result puts the defending champions on the front foot in the Rolex SailGP Championship and underscored how heavy breeze and steep seas can reshape a catamaran regatta.

The 13-boat F50 fleet faced high speeds and challenging chop throughout the weekend. Emirates GBR built its advantage with a string of consistent fleet-race wins on day two, posting the steadiness needed to qualify for the Final. In the decider, the British team held off Australia’s BONDS Flying Roos and DS Automobiles Team France to secure the Perth title, proving speed alone was not enough - handling and control in the lumpy, wind-driven conditions determined the winners.

Perth’s Fremantle Doctor delivered exactly what local sailors warned about: a strong, gusty sea breeze that creates steep, short-period waves and punishing upwind and downwind transitions. For F50 crews that means razor-sharp flight control, rapid foil rake adjustments, and flawless grind-room work to keep foil immersion and pitch within survivable limits. The weekend provided a reminder that setup choices for heavy-air foiling are as crucial as raw boat speed; trim, rake, and foil profile had to be balanced against the risk of capsizes or pitch-poles.

For the catamaran community, the takeaway is practical. Teams and owners prepping performance multihulls should prioritise heavy-air training, rehearsal of crew choreography for quick maneuvers, and conservative foil settings when the chop gets steep. Boat systems and powertrains also get their trial by sea; reliability under high load is a championship asset. Sailors racing or cruising in Fremantle-style conditions need to respect wind gradients and wave timing when accelerating through puffs, and to consider reefing and sail selection early rather than pushing for marginal gains.

Beyond technique, Emirates GBR’s win matters in championship terms. Early points and a confidence boost in extreme conditions give the defending champions momentum as the season unfolds. For local clubs and amateur foilers, the event is a practical showcase of what elite teams do under pressure and a useful blueprint for heavy-air catamaran handling.

Expect teams to carry the lessons from Perth into the next rounds: lighter rake settings for flat water, conservative choices on big chop, and rehearsal of the high-load scenarios that nearly always separate the podium from the pack.