SailGP, Canada driver Giles Scott unpicks Day 1 in San Francisco

NorthStar Canada driver Giles Scott has debriefed the first day of racing in San Francisco, which saw the Canadians top the leaderboard after four fleet races.

The Canadians put in a near-performance performance to pick up a 100% flight time and two race wins of four. It comes after the team won its first event of the season in Los Angeles last weekend.

Reflecting on the day’s racing, Scott said there was ‘plenty going on’ as close calls and near misses plagued the course but the team ‘kept our noses clean and sailed well’.

He added that with steady wind conditions and ‘nice flat water’, it was ‘a day to push’. “I think almost all teams were pushing about as hard as they possibly could’.

The wide-open course of San Francisco made a welcome change from the tighter courses of recent events, such as Los Angeles and Auckland.

“Plenty is going on with the racecourse - plenty of calls to make and it’s really nice to be on a bigger course for the first time in a while, stretch our legs and pick a few shifts.”

One notable moment for the team unfolded in the final stages of the fourth fleet race when a minor mistake by race leaders France opened the door to NorthStar Canada in second. The Canadians wasted no time in seizing their opportunity, overtaking France on the finish line to pick up their second race win of the day.

Heading into day two, NorthStar Canada has a compelling lead with 35 points, followed by Australia with 32 and Spain with 29. Three fleet races follow on March 23 before the all-important three-boat showdown to decide the event winner. Racing resumes at 2.30 pm PDT.