Louis Sinclair, a grinder for the Black Foils, suffered compound fractures to both legs, while Manon Audinet, the strategist for Team France, sustained internal abdominal injuries. Both sailors have since been discharged from the hospital and are recovering at home.
SailGP officials have released the findings of their technical review, stating that there was no evidence of system malfunction. Alex Reid, SailGP’s director of performance and engineering, explained that the Black Foils’ boat, Amokura, encountered a gust of wind as it approached the first mark at 90 km/h, causing it to accelerate rapidly and lift higher out of the water. This increase in “ride height” led to the leeward hydrofoil piercing the surface, destabilizing the boat and setting off a rapid chain of aerodynamic and hydrodynamic events.
Despite efforts to regain control, the Black Foils could not prevent the collision with Team France, traveling at approximately 86 km/h. The technical review confirmed that there was no system malfunction or structural failure prior to the incident, attributing the crash to a series of uncontrollable events.
As a result of the incident, New Zealand received an eight-event-point penalty for breaching rule 14 (avoiding contact), while France was found to have had no reasonable opportunity to avoid the crash. Both teams will miss the upcoming Sydney Sail Grand Prix as they focus on repairs.
SailGP is now exploring potential measures to help crews better handle similar gust-driven scenarios in future races, aiming to enhance safety and prevent such incidents from occurring again.
