Australia are hot on the heels of the leader-leaders, though. They triumphed at the ITM New Zealand GP in Round 2, but were disappointed to only come third during their home race last time out — as driver Tom Slingsby suggested after the final. “I think everyone thought we were a shoe-in there and it didn’t go our way, but that’s sport,” he said, before adding: “We didn’t sail well enough in the final race and that’s the reason we lost.” Regardless, Australia are just three points off the top (24), closely followed by Spain and New Zealand on 20 points apiece. Driven by Diego Botin, the former secured a second-place finish in Auckland, while New Zealand won the Emirates Dubai GP — but only placed eighth in Sydney.