The Italian team was sitting third and on course for the Final when a start-line collision ended its weekend in the last fleet race of the Mubadala New York Sail Grand Prix on 30–31 May.
NEW YORK, 31 May 2026 – A weekend of brutal, shifting conditions served up some of the toughest racing the SailGP fleet has ever seen, and a promising charge from Red Bull Italy SailGP Team that ended early.
Saturday’s racing was effectively wiped out. Brutal winds meant the tech team could only get three of the twelve boats safely on the water, and with Italy among the nine left ashore, the day’s results were scrapped entirely. That left just three fleet races on Sunday to decide who would make the winner-takes-all final.
The Italians came out firing. After threatening the front of Race 1 before crossing sixth, the crew nailed Race 2, cutting through the pack to third in the twelve-boat fleet and into the top three overall, right in the fight for the final alongside the USA and Great Britain.
The numbers backed up the pace: Phil Robertson averaged just 0.76 seconds off the line across the three races and flight controller Andrea Tesei recorded 96.76% flight time, the pair claiming two of the four Precision Athlete of the Day awards.
Then Race 3 turned the weekend on its head. As the Italians eased off to stay the right side of the line, the USA and Brazil came in from behind and couldn’t avoid contact. Nobody was hurt in the collision, but the damage ended the weekend.
”Unfortunately, we were taken out on the starting line by two boats,” said team driver Phil Robertson. “We were very fortunate that nobody was injured, but we’re definitely shaken up and frustrated. What happened was completely avoidable, which makes it even more disappointing.”
“It’s very frustrating for the team. We had two great races and were looking really good to qualify for the final, so we’re obviously disappointed by what happened,” added CEO Jimmy Spithill. “Our guys were completely in the right, but the most important thing is that no one was injured and everyone involved is okay. Now we need to make sure we get the boat back, assess the damage, and go from there.”
With no practice racing able to take place this weekend due to the intense conditions, Red Bull Italy SailGP Team took their warm-up off the water, dropping in to the New York Red Bulls’ stadium for a tour of the football team’s home and to swap a few skills. A fitting start to a weekend that was anything but routine.
Red Bull Italy SailGP Team finished the event ninth and now sits tenth in the standings. With seven events remaining in Season 6, there’s plenty still to fight for. Next up: the Canada Sail Grand Prix in Halifax, from 20-21 Jun 2026.
Red Bull Italy SailGP Team
Red Bull Italy SailGP Team represents a new generation of high-performance sailing: fast, fearless, and forward-looking. Making its debut in the 2024-25 SailGP season, the team aims to push boundaries, inspire, and redefine the sport by uniting Italy’s finest sailing talent with international expertise. At the helm is Phil Roberson, SailGP Champion and one of the sport’s most dynamic athletes. Alongside him, sailing legend Jimmy Spithill leads as CEO and co-owner, bringing unmatched experience and vision. The ownership group, led by Assia Grazioli Venier and Gian Luca Passi de Preposulo, combines entrepreneurial innovation and global perspective in a bold new chapter for Italian sailing.
SailGP
SailGP is widely regarded as the most thrilling racing on water, redefining the boundaries of modern sailing. The Rolex SailGP Championship is a global annual league that visits iconic cities around the world. Thirteen national teams – featuring some of the best athletes in the sport – compete on identical 50-foot foiling catamarans capable of exceeding 100 km/h and literally sailing faster than the wind.
SailGP combines sport and entertainment through its “stadium racing” format, with courses set close to shore to deliver a unique, high-adrenaline experience just meters from the action.
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