Spanish team 'Los Gallos' wins New York Sail Grand Prix amid chaotic conditions

Spain's 'Los Gallos' sailing team secured victory at the New York Sail Grand Prix, navigating a chaotic day of racing marked by extreme weather. The team, helmed by Spanish sailor Diego Botín, clinched wins in the second and third races of the event. "A fresh breeze from the north, blowing directly over the Manhattan skyscrapers, generated very turbulent, gusty, and changing conditions across the course," Sail GP reported. These conditions made for a "super difficult" race, according to Botín. The strong winds, with gusts exceeding 20 knots (nearly 100 km/h), created a challenging environment where sailors had to react instantly to sudden changes. Botín noted the high tension, partly due to issues with cranes, and the difficulty of handling the 24-meter sail in such conditions. "It was a lot of tension, but then we went out and, luckily, we were able to complete some races, return with the boat intact and we enjoyed spectacular sailing, so it was very nice," he said. The challenging weather meant only three of the four participating boats could finish the races. The favored local team, U.S. SailGP, finished last in two of the races after being unable to compete in the first. The Australian boat 'Bonds Flying' was the fourth competitor but did not finish the races.

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There were very strong gusts of wind; a really chaotic race course. At times, everything was under control and it seemed normal. Suddenly, you find yourself tacking with a gust of over 20 knots, at almost 100 km/h, approaching a rock wall, and you need to drop the daggerboard and gybe. But the guys did a great job. Obviously, not having that warm-up lap wasn't ideal for us, but we gave it our all on the course.