‘Los Gallos’ triumph in New York and lead the Rolex SailGP Championship

The Spain SailGP Team has completed a perfect weekend and claimed their second consecutive Grand Prix victory, following their win in San Francisco in March, 2025.

The Spain SailGP Team, which includes sailor Joan Cardona from the Real Club Náutico de Palma, completed a flawless weekend and won their second consecutive Grand Prix in New York, following their triumph in San Francisco in March. “Los Gallos” had to fight hard on Sunday, June 8th, to secure the win. They made it into the final at the last moment, but once there, they didn’t miss the opportunity, defeating New Zealand and France and making a bold statement in the championship.

Spain started Sunday just as strongly as they had on Saturday: a great start in the first race and a second-place finish that brought “Los Gallos” closer to the final. They battled for the win in that first race with Brazil, led by Martine Grael, who made history by securing the first-ever SailGP win for the Brazilian team, and the first for a female pilot in the competition: Martine Grael.

The second race of the day was the toughest of the entire weekend, and the only one in which Spain failed to score points. “Los Gallos” struggled to keep pace, fly consistently, and compete at the front. Despite a strong start, they lost positions as the race progressed and finished second-to-last, setting up a thrilling battle with “Mubadala Brazil” for a spot in the final.

In the third and decisive race, with a place in the final on the line, Spain only needed to finish ahead of Brazil. “Los Gallos” got off to a good start but suffered a penalty that dropped them back and forced them to work even harder to qualify for the much-desired final. And just like Alcaraz at Roland Garros, when things looked bleakest, “Los Gallos” showed their grit and pulled off an incredible strategic move to overtake Brazil and earn their place in the final.

There, Spain faced New Zealand and France. In the final, Spain once again nailed the start, reaching mark 1 in the lead. In a tightly contested race, Spain went head-to-head with Peter Burling’s New Zealand team. And in front of the Statue of Liberty, “Los Gallos” did it again, showcasing their talent, fighting spirit, and ability to compete against the world’s best, claiming their second consecutive Grand Prix win in the Rolex SailGP Championship and making a resounding statement in the competition. New Zealand finished second, with France in third.

Following their victory, “Los Gallos” now top the overall leaderboard with 46 points, one ahead of Australia (45) and two ahead of New Zealand (44).

Spanish team pilot Diego Botín commented after the win: “This victory is incredible for the team. Winning back-to-back in SailGP is no easy feat, and we’ve done it. The United States is a special place for us, it’s where we’ve had the most wins, and we leave with great memories. Today was a tough start for us; the conditions were very tricky. But we managed to reset our mindset, give it everything in the final, and we’re leaving really happy.”

Now, fans will have to wait until July to enjoy the thrilling action of the Rolex SailGP Championship once again. The competition will return on July 19th and 20th, moving to European waters with the Emirates Great Britain Sail Grand Prix in Portsmouth.