New Zealand crowned Abu Dhabi SailGP champions

Thousands of fans descended on the shores of Mina Zayed over the weekend to see New Zealand take the winning title of the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Sail Grand Prix.

The seventh event in the international calendar, presented by Abu Dhabi Sports Council, brought excitement and action-packed racing with ten national teams battling it out in front of the spectacular Corniche skyline to secure vital points in the SailGP leaderboard.

Despite light winds, the crowds witnessed a historic event, as New Zealand took a doubleheader across both UAE events.

The tight course, close to the fans on-shore, saw a dramatic three-boat final between America, Spain and New Zealand - where New Zealand took the podium win and sailed well in the light wind conditions.

In an exciting second day, Spain made a comeback and challenged Team New Zealand on the final leg, but it was the Kiwis who crossed the finish line first.

Speaking after racing, New Zealand driver Peter Burling said the result was “an amazing way to kick off 2024."

He added that the race course added to the excitement - especially because it allowed the team to be up-close to the fans. 

When asked how they seemed to deliver time after time, Burling said that the secret to their success was improving together as a team.