Source: Radio New Zealand
A collision between Black Foils driven by Peter Burling and Blair Tuke and DS Team France, driven by Quentin Delapierre at the start of race 3. Phil Walter
Sailors from the New Zealand and France teams have been rushed to Auckland hospital, after a high-speed collision in race three of the New Zealand SailGP event off Wynyard Point.
Racing was suspended, when the two boats came together on the opening leg, with the Black Foils seemingly losing control of their rudder and spinning back into the French.
France had nowhere to go and flew over the bow of Amokura, as their rivals disappeared up the course towards the first mark.
The windward hull of the NZ boat has been sliced in half, so they won’t be seen on the water again this weekend.
The collision left two injured from each team. Phil Walter
As they rounded the mark and headed back towards the two entangled boats, race organisers called the race off and safety crews rushed to the wreckage.
All crew members were quickly accounted for, but two sailors – one from each team – were injured and taken ashore, conscious and alert.
NZ driver Peter Burling stayed on his boat, overseeing the salvage. He and counterpart Quentin Delapierre looked shaken.
Race three has been abandoned, and organisers have cancelled Saturday’s remaining races.
This is New Zealand’s second major crash in as many events.
Moments into the season-opening race at Perth last month, the Black Foils collided with Switzerland, losing their stern, and were unable to race again that weekend.
They faced an anxious repair process over following weeks, but Amokura was apparently back to full integrity for their home regatta, as the home team finished third and first in the first two races to lead the event into race three.
This time, the damage to boat and crew is even more serious.
After the Perth incident, NZ driver Peter Burling was judged at fault and became the first to incur demerit points under newly introduced SailGP ‘Super Licence’ protocols.
New Zealand SailGP marks the first occasion 13 boats have contested racing, with the addition of Artemis Sweden for this year’s series.
Spain missed the season’s opening event at Perth, after suffering damage in practice, but the fleet was at full strength for the first time at Auckland.
All 13 teams were jostling for position off the startline, making the tight run to the first mark chaotic. That leg is usually the fastest of the race, exacerbating the risk.
Next year, organisers hope to add a 14th team to the championship and will likely split the fleet into smaller heats of seven, as they for practice racing currently.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
