SailGP Collision: Sailors Hospitalized After High-Speed Crash in Auckland
- Auckland, New Zealand – A high-speed collision between the New Zealand and French teams during the third race of the ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix on Saturday,...
- The Black Foils, representing New Zealand, appeared to lose control of their rudder on the opening leg, spinning back into the path of the DS Automobiles SailGP Team...
- Both teams quickly accounted for all crew members, but two sailors – one from each team – sustained injuries and were transported ashore for medical attention.
Collision Suspends SailGP Racing in Auckland, Injuring Two Sailors
Auckland, New Zealand – A high-speed collision between the New Zealand and French teams during the third race of the ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix on , brought racing to an abrupt halt and left two sailors injured. The incident occurred off Wynyard Point, prompting immediate suspension of the event as safety crews responded.
The Black Foils, representing New Zealand, appeared to lose control of their rudder on the opening leg, spinning back into the path of the DS Automobiles SailGP Team France. According to reports, the French boat had no room to maneuver and sailed over the bow of the New Zealand vessel.
Both teams quickly accounted for all crew members, but two sailors – one from each team – sustained injuries and were transported ashore for medical attention. The Black Foils later confirmed that grinder Louis Sinclair suffered compound fractures to both legs and is currently in stable condition at an Auckland hospital.
“This one was super scary and above the margins,” said Quentin Delapierre, driver of the French team. “Hopefully, we will find some solutions, so we never see this kind of stuff again. Say anything about the incident – everything happened so quickly and it is super cloudy in my head. I didn’t review the footage, so say accurate things, but it was probably the scariest I have experienced. Full support to Team NZ and also my teammates. Hopefully, everyone is OK.”
The extent of the injuries to the French sailor remains undisclosed. Delapierre also indicated uncertainty about the team’s ability to compete on , stating, “At the moment, it looks difficult for us to race tomorrow, but nothing is impossible, so we’ll see.”
The collision resulted in significant damage to both boats. Images show the French F50 catamaran being craned from the water, visibly damaged. The Black Foils also sustained considerable damage, as evidenced by photos showing the boat’s condition upon returning to shore.
Team New Zealand released a statement confirming Sinclair’s injuries and expressing gratitude for the support received. “Sinclair is receiving treatment for compound fractures to both legs, but is in a stable condition,” the team said. “Thank you for all of the messages of support since the incident. Special thank you to all of the medical staff involved in the response to the crash and subsequent treatment of all the athletes involved.”
Driver Peter Burling and strategist Liv Mackay of the Black Foils were reportedly shaken but uninjured in the incident.
This marks the second major collision for the Black Foils in as many SailGP events. During the season-opening race in Perth last month, the New Zealand team collided with Switzerland, resulting in damage that prevented them from racing for the remainder of that weekend. Burling was subsequently issued demerit points under the newly implemented SailGP ‘Super Licence’ protocols for that incident.
The Auckland event is the first to feature the full fleet of 13 teams, including the addition of Artemis Sweden this season. The increased number of boats competing has raised concerns about the potential for collisions, particularly during the congested start to each race.
Delapierre acknowledged the possibility that the larger fleet size may have contributed to the accident, stating, “It’s probably part of the equation, but it’s way more complicated than that, so I don’t want to say too much.” Organizers are considering splitting the fleet into smaller heats of seven for practice racing and potentially future events.
Sunday’s forecast predicts even stronger winds, prompting a slight adjustment to the race schedule to avoid the worst of a weather system impacting the North Island. Delapierre suggested the league may need to review safety protocols. “I don’t know what’s the league position, but probably tomorrow, we need to take some decisions to avoid this kind of stuff,” he said. “We were probably above the margins today, so we’ll see what happens.”