Halifax SailGP Wows Fans
July 7, 2026
After a difficult and light wind first day, SailGP moved up start times, increased the sail size, and accurately read the win predictions to deliver a stunning Day 2. Canada’s Northstar, flummoxed by shifty low winds on Saturday picked it up thanks to smart tactical decisions and brilliant boat handling to finish second in both of Sunday’s Group A qualifiers. Unfortunately, the Sunday points earned didn’t compensate for Saturday’s headaches and Northstar missed qualifying for the final event,
Spain’s Los Gallos SailGP Team won the Canada Sail Grand Prix | Halifax in the first-ever SailGP four-boat final in front of a nearly capacity crowd of 6,000 official ticketed spectators on Sunday, as many more packed the waterfront on Halifax Harbour.
The win marked the first event victory of this season for Los Gallos – the 2023-24 season champions – as they beat out Sweden’s Artemis Racing in a final that went down to the wire, with the Explora Journeys Swiss SailGP Team taking third and Australia’s Bonds Flying Roos finishing fourth. Canada’s NorthStar SailGP Team – led by driver Giles Scott, strategist Annie Haeger, and Halifax native and flight controller Billy Gooderham – finished in seventh place overall.
Sunday’s racing unfolded with winds beginning at 27 km/h – right on the upper limit for the 27.5m wingsail and light-air foils. NorthStar driver Giles Scott said: “I’m just so, so glad for everyone in Halifax that the weather played ball today and that we were able to have an epic day of racing. It was amazing to be a part of. It’s a bit disappointing that we couldn’t climb any higher given our result yesterday, but it is what it is. We’ve ended on a high today.”
