New Zealand SailGP Team Grapples with Consecutive Collisions

The New Zealand SailGP Team has recently been involved in two distinct collisions during Sail Grand Prix events, leading to withdrawals from racing, significant boat damage, and minor injuries to sailors. These incidents occurred at the Oracle Perth Sail Grand Prix and the ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix, impacting the team's ability to compete.

Perth Incident: New Zealand vs. Switzerland

A notable collision transpired between the New Zealand and Switzerland SailGP teams during Race 1, Day 1, of the Oracle Perth Sail Grand Prix in Fremantle. This incident resulted in both F50 boats being withdrawn from further racing that day, and subsequently, the New Zealand team was unable to compete in the opening round of Season 6.

The collision occurred approximately 100 meters from Mark 2. Adjudication of the incident utilized the UmpApp, a specialized tool that assesses incidents remotely based on the GPS positions of the F50 boats.

UmpApp data indicated a precise sequence of events regarding right-of-way:

• As both boats neared Mark 2, Switzerland was to windward and clear ahead of New Zealand, establishing its right-of-way status.
• Switzerland then initiated a gybe onto starboard, during which, while on port tack, it temporarily became the give-way boat.
• Crucially, UmpApp data showed Switzerland regained its right-of-way status two seconds after starting its turn.
• Contact between the vessels occurred two seconds after Switzerland had regained right-of-way, as New Zealand attempted to pass ahead. This sequence led to a penalty being assessed against New Zealand.

The damage sustained from the collision was substantial. The New Zealand F50 suffered a sliced port hull and damage to its port stern. The Swiss bow incurred minor damage. Both the New Zealand team and the Spanish team, which also experienced hull damage in a separate training incident, were anticipated to return to action in Auckland in mid-February.

Home Waters Clash: New Zealand vs. France

Racing was abruptly abandoned on the first day of the ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix in Auckland following a collision involving the New Zealand and France teams. The incident occurred during Race 3, shortly after the start, on the crucial reach to the first mark. Two sailors required treatment for injuries and were reported to be in stable condition, with all other crew members accounted for.

Conditions at the time were challenging. Wind speed was reported at 32 km/h, with sailors describing the environment as shifty and gusty. Boat speeds on the first leg leading up to the incident had reached impressive highs of up to 93.7 km/h (50.5 knots).

Both New Zealand and France had started near the leeward end of the line. New Zealand, initially positioned to windward of the French boat, went into an unexpected sideways slide ahead of the French vessel. The New Zealand boat then spun sharply to windward, nosedived, and continued to spin into the wind, with its port hull rising during the slide.

The French team had very limited time to react to the sudden maneuver, resulting in their port hull impacting the New Zealand starboard hull near the shroud. Following the collision, the French team promptly checked on the welfare of the New Zealand team.