Auckland, New Zealand – Racing at the ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix was abandoned Saturday after a high-speed collision between the New Zealand team’s Black Foils and DS Team France, leaving two sailors injured and both boats severely damaged. Louis Sinclair, a grinder for the Black Foils, sustained compound fractures to both legs and is currently in stable condition at an Auckland hospital, according to a team statement.
The incident occurred during the opening leg of the third fleet race, as the 13-boat fleet approached the first gate at speeds approaching 90 km/h (56 mph). The Black Foils appeared to lose control, veering into the path of the French F50 catamaran. France’s boat subsequently rode over the New Zealand vessel, resulting in significant damage to both crafts. RNZ reports that all crew members were accounted for, but two required immediate medical attention.
“Black Foils grinder Louis Sinclair is in a stable condition in Auckland Hospital after suffering injuries to both legs during the collision with the French during racing today,” the New Zealand team confirmed. “Sinclair is receiving treatment for compound fractures to both legs but is in a stable condition.” The identity of the injured French sailor has not yet been released, and the extent of their injuries remains undisclosed.
Quentin Delapierre, driver for DS Team France, described the incident as “super scary” and expressed concern for both teams. “I think everyone, both team New Zealand and us, are pretty shocked,” Delapierre said. “Full support to team New Zealand and my teammates, also. Hopefully, we’ll recover from this.” He added that the collision happened too quickly to fully process, stating, “Everything happened so quickly, it’s pretty cloudy in my mind. I just tried to do my best to avoid the collision but obviously it happened too quickly.” SailGP’s official report details Delapierre’s inability to provide a detailed account due to the speed of the event.
Television footage suggests a rudder malfunction on the Black Foils contributed to the loss of control. The incident marks the second collision for the New Zealand team this season, following a prior incident with Switzerland at the Perth event, where driver Peter Burling received demerit points on his super sailing license. This latest crash raises questions about safety protocols within the high-speed racing series.
SailGP utilizes identical 50-foot catamarans capable of reaching speeds of 100 km/h (60 mph) as they “fly” above the water on hydrofoils. The inherent risks associated with these speeds were underscored by Saturday’s collision. Prior to the crash, Australia won the first race of the day, and New Zealand secured victory in the second. MySailing.com.au reports that thirteen international teams were competing in challenging conditions, with gusts reaching 35 km/h.
Organizers have announced that racing will resume Sunday, but with an earlier start time due to a forecast of thunderstorms. The condition of the damaged F50 catamarans, and whether either team will be able to participate in further races, remains uncertain. The SailGP event committee has not yet released a statement regarding a potential investigation into the cause of the collision.
