Fletcher sends message to SailGP fleet with commanding Perth win

Reigning Rolex SailGP Champions Emirates GBR have sent a message to the fleet with a sensational season-opening victory at the Oracle Perth Sail Grand Prix, presented by KPMG (17-18 January).

After a difficult first day’s racing on Saturday, the Brits ruled the waves on day two, defeating the BONDS Flying Roos and DS Team France on a Fremantle day that left no margin for error.

Battling steep waves and 45 km/h gusts of wind, Emirates GBR driver Dylan Fletcher called the conditions “Absolutely incredible. This is why we came to Perth,” he continued, “To Fremantle, for the Doctor.”

Heading into the Final, Emirates GBR executed perfectly through the start – holding off a hard-pushing French crew as the Australians were forced behind due to a pre-start boundary penalty.

Despite their advances, Fletcher stayed ahead of his rivals – staying calm and sailing clean to gain a comfortable lead and sweep across the line first.

After his crew’s 2025 Season Grand Final triumph just over a month ago, Fletcher said he was on “cloud nine” after claiming victory in the Perth opener.

“It’s been an incredible start for the team here in Perth,” he said. “We left a lot out there, with plenty still to work on, but I’m really proud of how the team has been chipping away each day. We had a disappointing start yesterday and didn’t get the results we wanted but we came out firing today, and I’m stoked with the result.”

The Brits would have been feeling the pressure to perform, given they were Season Champions last year and had a new addition to the team in Stuart Bithell MBE, who replaced Wing Trimmer Iain Jensen after his transfer to his home Australian team.

The signing reunited Bithell with Emirates GBR Driver Fletcher for the first time since they won Olympic gold together in the 49er at the Tokyo 2020 Games.

Emirates GBR strategist Hannah Mills said: “We’ve had Stu come on board as wing trimmer which is a big dynamic shift. We’re really proud of how the team has come together this week – we kept a learning mindset and then put it into practice when we went racing. It doesn’t get much better than that, especially in Perth. It’s our flight controller’s hometown and for us to go out there with the Doctor coming in strong, amazing breeze and a bit of chop, it made it tricky to race the boats but it delivered phenomenal racing.”

The first of 13 events on the 2026 Season calendar, the Oracle Perth Sail Grand Prix, presented by KPMG, has set the bar high – and British fans can look forward to their share of the drama when the Emirates Great Britain Sail Grand Prix returns to Portsmouth on 25-26 July for what is expected to be one of the biggest events of the season.

Tickets are available now at sailgp.com/Portsmouth and we’ll bring you exclusive early season insights from the Rolex SailGP Championship and Emirates GBR at the RYA Dinghy & Watersports Show (21-22 February).