QS5 Group 7 - Final Day: South Africa and Malaysia take the prize

Despite finishing 3rd in today’s final race, SSL Team Malaysia join runaway Group leaders SSL Team South Africa at the Final Series in Bahrain this October.

With SSL Team South Africa wrapping up qualification with a day to spare, today’s final ‘Golden Day’ race was all about the battle between SSL Team Malaysia and SSL Team India.

Race 6: Malaysia do just enough

Already qualified, SSL Team South Africa finished on a high with victory in the final race. 2nd place for SSL Team India sees them miss out while SSL Team Malaysia takes the final qualifying spot in 3rd.

As they have done all week, SSL South Africa took control early and never looked back, capping a brilliant week for them with another authoritative win.

After a game of chicken between SSL Team India and SSL Team Malaysia led to a collision on the start line yesterday, both teams stayed well clear of each other at the outset this time.

Late to blossom, SSL Team India has improved with every race this week. By the halfway point, they had left the Malaysians 'Monsoon' in their wake and were just about staying in touch with Ian Ainslie’s Ubuntu. But a problem dropping their gennaker at the gate ended any hopes they had of taking the victory they needed, and they miss out on qualification by a single point.

At 60th in the world rankings, making the Finals is even sweeter for SSL Team Malaysia, given they started the week as the lowest ranked team in the group.

See you in Bahrain

Congratulations to SSL Team South Africa and SSL Team Malaysia. With the Qualifying Series officially complete, the 16 teams who will open the Finals in Bahrain are now known.

The draw to decide the opening groups for the Finals will take place later this summer, with the date to be announced shortly. Make sure to follow the SSL Gold Cup on Facebook and/or Instagram to stay in the loop!

THEY SAID:

Ian Ainslie, Helm and Captain, SSL Team South Africa

"We had a great week, everything on and off the boat worked well and it was really stress free. Our nickname is Ubuntu, that mean diversity, and there isn't a more 'ubuntu' sailing event than the SSL Gold Cup, here with so many different countries, with so many different stories and backgrounds, it is fantastic. On top of it all seeing the Ukrainian team winning their fleet was very emotional. This is the SSL Gold Cup and we are happy to be part of it".

Khairulnizam Mohd Afendy, Helm, SSL Team Malaysia

"I want to thank all my crew who worked very hard this week. We struggled yesterday and today as we had to keep India behind and control South Africa. But we are happy because we will come stronger for Bahrain. We are usually good in strong conditions like today so we will need to improve for Bahrain. But now it’s time to celebrate our qualification. We would like to thank our patron, His Highness Amir Shah who came here to support us and our family back home who were following us all the time."

ALSO READ: QS5 GROUP 7: INDIA, MALAYSIA, AND SOUTH AFRICA PREPARE FOR TOUGH BATTLE

DID YOU KNOW?

Sailing has its own World Cup, finally! Like football in 1930 and rugby in 1987, the SSL Gold Cup is designed to crown the best sailing nation of all! The World's Top 56 countries, selected on their SSL Nation ranking, will battle their way through to raise the coveted and only Sailing World Cup trophy.

The SSL Gold Cup 2022 started on May 19th with the Qualifying Series in Grandson, Lake Neuchatel (Switzerland). All teams ranked from the Top 25 to 56 in the SSL Nations Ranking (based on January 2022 standings) will meet in eight groups of four teams each. There will be five stages, or rounds, until July 17th.

Only the top two teams of each group will go through to the Final Series that will take place from October 28th to November 20th, 2022, in Bahrain.