Racing was abandoned at the Auckland SailGP event today after a horrific crash between the New Zealand Black Foils SailGP Team and DS Automobiles SailGP Team France. Two sailors, Louis Sinclair (NZL) and Manon Audinet (FRA), were taken to hospital for their injuries but are reported as stableAn aerial shot of Black Foils SailGP Team helmed by Peter Burling and DS Automobiles SailGP Team France helmed by Quentin Delapierre colliding during Race 3, on Race Day 1 of the ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix in Auckland, New Zealand. Saturday 14 February 2026. Rolex SailGP Championship Event 2 2026 Season. Photo: Simon Bruty for SailGP. Handout image supplied by SailGPTwo sailors were reported as stable after being treated for injuries sustained during a serious crash between the Black Foils SailGP Team, helmed by Peter Burling, and DS Automobiles SailGP Team France, helmed by Quentin Delapierre shortly after the start of Race 3 at the ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix in Auckland today.
\nRacing in strong, gusty winds on a tight course off the New Zealand city shoreline, the 13 F50s lined up for their third start of the day in a building offshore breeze.
\nOn the first reaching leg from the start to the Mark 1 turning mark, the Black Foils F50 appeared to ride high, losing rudder grip and skidding sideways to leeward, before then spinning up into the wind, effectively stopping dead, broadside to and immediately in front of the French team.
\nBlack Foils SailGP Team helmed by Peter Burling and DS Automobiles SailGP Team France helmed by Quentin Delapierre collide during racing on Race Day 1 of the ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix in Auckland. Photo: Andrew Baker for SailGP. Handout image supplied by SailGP
\nFrench skipper Delapierre appeared to try and take avoiding action, but with just split seconds to react their port hull violently slammed into and across the New Zealand starboard hull and cockpit, where the majority of crew were positioned.
\nSailors from the French team could be seen immediately running across the boat to check on the Kiwi crew, while rescue RIBs powered towards the scene.
\nThe live broadcast captured the moment, and some shocking onboard camera perspectives (race 3 starts around 51 minutes):<\/p>\n
All sailors were swiftly accounted for, but it was reported that two sailors had suffered injuries and were being taken for treatment, with their condition reported as stable.
\nThe Black Foils team later confirmed that grinder Louis Sinclair had suffered compound fractures to both legs during the incident.
\nThe team statement said: \u201cSinclair is receiving treatment for compound fractures to both legs but is in a stable condition. Thank you to all of the messages of support since the incident, special thank yout o all of the medical staff involved in the response to the crash and subsequent treatment of al the athletes involved.\u201d
\nBlack Foils SailGP Team helmed by Peter Burling and DS Automobiles SailGP Team France helmed by Quentin Delapierre collide during Race 3, on Race Day 1 of the ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix in Auckland, New Zealand. Photo: Simon Bruty for SailGP. Handout image supplied by SailGP
\nThe French team also confirmed that Manon Audinet had also been taken to hospital. Their statement explained: \u201cAt the moment of impact, Manon Audinet, positioned leeward while preparing for a gybe, was violently thrown forward inside her cockpit, resulting in the breakage of the F50 steering wheel.
\n\u201cShe was immediately attended to by the SailGP medical team before being transported to AUckland Hospital for further examinations. These assessments are intended to rule out any major injury, particularly in the abdominal area, which was most exposed during the impact. She is currently being kept under observation.\u201d
\nThe Black Foils SailGP Team buries its bow shortly before colliding with DS Automobiles SailGP Team France on Leg one of Race 3. Photo: Iain McGregor for SailGP. Handout image supplied by SailGP
\nSpeaking shortly after arriving onshore, DS Team France driver Quentin Delapierre told waiting reporters: \u201cOn the incident itself, I can\u2019t really say anything. Everything happened so quickly \u2013 it\u2019s still super cloudy in my head and I haven\u2019t reviewed the footage or spoken to the umpires.
\n\u201cI think both teams are OK. I want to give my thoughts to the New Zealand team and also to my teammates \u2013 this was tough for everyone on both teams. I believe we\u2019ll find some solutions to make sure we never see this kind of thing happen again.\u201d
\nThere had been plenty of build-up surrounding the potentially testing conditions the SailGP sailors would face in Auckland, with strong winds resulting in the cancellation of practice day yesterday, and a full fleet of 13 F50s lining up on one of the tightest and most spectacular race tracks on the circuit.
\nAnd so it proved, with strong, gusty winds barrelling across the course. On the first leg of Race 3, the boats were power reaching at over 93kmph, or 50 knots, and many sailors reported afterwards that the wind was both shifty and gusty.
\nThe damaged hull of the DS Automobiles SailGP Team France F50 catamaran is worked on in the technical area following the collision. Photo: James Gourley for SailGP. Handout image supplied by SailGP
\nTom Slingsby, skipper of the Australian BONDS Flying Roos, said afterwards: \u201c\u201cIt was a very tricky race course.\u201d
\n\u201cThat wind direction is the one here that doesn\u2019t leave much space, so we knew it was going to be tight. Coming into the first mark, you\u2019re getting hit by a lot of bullets of wind and then it goes light, and it\u2019s hard to read the breeze across the track.\u00a0
\n\u201cIt was fun racing when everything was going well, but then you\u2019re just trying to stay out of trouble and get the best result you can.\u201d
\nBoth boats were severely damaged in the impact, the Black Foils F50 dismasting afterwards, with both a hull and crossbeam apparently smashed, while the port bow of the French boat was sliced off in the collision.
\nMembers of the salvage team works to clear the wreckage of the Black Foils SailGP Team F50 following the collision. Photo: James Gourley for SailGP. Handout image supplied by SailGP
\nWe wish all sailors involved a speedy recovery.
\nThe post Catastrophic crash at SailGP Auckland leaves two sailors injured, racing abandoned appeared first on Yachting World.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Racing was abandoned at the Auckland SailGP event today after a horrific crash between the New Zealand Black Foils SailGP Team and DS Automobiles SailGP Team France. Two sailors, Louis Sinclair (NZL) and Manon Audinet (FRA), were taken to hospital … <\/p>\n