Australia Clinches Victory in SailGP Series
In a dramatic conclusion to the New Zealand leg of the SailGP series, Australia clinched victory despite a serious collision that marred the event on Saturday. The crash, involving the New Zealand and French teams, left one sailor from each team with significant injuries. Pilot Tom Slingsby successfully led the Australian Flying Roos to triumph in the final, which featured three boats, outpacing competitors from Spain and Britain.
Record-Breaking Participation and Safety Concerns
This event follows Britain’s earlier win in Perth and places both Australia and Britain in a tie for the overall series lead. Due to anticipated strong winds, race organizers opted to split the fleet into two groups for the second day’s competitions. Remarkably, this leg welcomed a record-breaking 13 boats on the course Saturday, leading to concerns about overcrowding on the narrow track, which may have contributed to the unfortunate incident.
Injuries and Investigations
Among the injured was Louis Sinclair, a grinder on the New Zealand craft, who endured severe compound fractures to both of his legs when their boat collided with the French entry at speeds nearing 56 mph (90 km/h). Following this, New Zealand’s team confirmed that Sinclair underwent successful surgery on his right leg due to the collision’s impacts, and medical professionals expressed optimism regarding his recovery.
Furthermore, the New Zealand team has committed to a thorough investigation into the collision, attempting to navigate future race safety alongside SailGP’s event organizers. The crash also impacted French team strategist Manon Audinet, who sustained abdominal injuries during the accident. Team France expressed their support for both injured sailors, highlighting a sense of unity and empathy during this challenging time.
Looking Ahead
With limited time to prepare, both teams face the challenge of repairing their damaged boats before the next round, scheduled to take place in Sydney in two weeks. While the French boat sustained damage to one hull, it appears that the New Zealand vessel requires more extensive repairs. Racing on Sunday was characterized by strong winds ahead of a looming thunderstorm, with the highest speed achieved by the fleet reaching 63 mph (101.99 km/h).
