Racing was abandoned on day one of the ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix following a dramatic on-water collision between the Black Foils SailGP Team and the DS Automobiles SailGP Team France in Auckland.
The incident occurred during Race 3, shortly after the start on the reach to the first mark, in challenging conditions with winds reported at approximately 32km/h. According to organisers, two sailors were treated for injuries and are in stable condition. All other crew members were accounted for following the collision.
The New Zealand team, helmed by Peter Burling, and the French team, led by Quentin Delapierre, had both started near the leeward end of the line. Boat speeds on the opening leg reportedly reached up to 93.7km/h (50.5 knots), with sailors describing the breeze as shifty and highly gusty.
Video footage shows the New Zealand F50 initially positioned to windward of the French boat before entering a sudden sideways slide ahead of it. The manoeuvre developed into a spin to windward, with the bow nosediving and the port (leeward) hull lifting clear of the water. As the New Zealand boat rotated, the French crew had minimal time to react, resulting in their port hull striking the New Zealand starboard hull near the shroud area.
Despite the severity of the impact, the French team responded immediately, crossing their boat to check on the New Zealand crew as race management moved quickly to suspend racing for the day.
SailGP has confirmed that investigations into the incident are ongoing, with safety remaining the championship’s top priority as the international foiling series continues its global season.
