SailGP has confirmed New Zealand and France will not compete at the Sydney Sail Grand Prix following a collision between their F50s in Auckland.
The Sydney SailGP returns to Sydney Harbour for a seventh time from 28 February to 1 March 2026
The catastrophic collision took place at the start of race three on the opening day of the ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix in Auckland, amid “shifty, wacky conditions” described by Emirates GBR driver Dylan Fletcher as being “like Mario Kart”. The New Zealand F50 lost control while approaching mark one at speed and turned sharply across the path of the French boat. Both F50s sustained significant damage.
Subsequent inspection and testing were carried out on components from both boats. The New Zealand central pod and port hull have been cleared for reuse, but its starboard hull and cross beams were found to have sustained extensive structural damage.
The French central pod, beams and starboard hull have passed inspection following repair work. Its port hull suffered significant damage and will not return to service.
Engineering teams are working to assemble a race-ready platform using serviceable components from both F50s. Current efforts are reportedly focused on returning the boats to competition once repairs and rebuilding are complete.
Two athletes – New Zealand’s Louis Sinclair and France’s Manon Audinet – were evacuated from the racecourse by the SailGP on-water safety team and transported to hospital.
Sinclair underwent surgery for a fracture to his right leg. He is in stable condition and has returned home. Audinet sustained abdominal bruising. She remains under medical observation as a precaution and is recovering.
SailGP says a review of the incident is in progress. This includes analysis of performance data and onboard systems to determine the sequence of events that lead to the crash. The organisation has issued a statement saying that athlete welfare remains its highest priority and that any findings will be addressed in line with procedures applied to previous incidents.
High-stakes sport or preventable risk?
SailGP has built its identity on speed, spectacle and stadium-style racing. But as the fleet grows faster and tighter, the margins shrink. Whether Auckland becomes a turning point or a warning unheeded may depend less on the investigation’s findings and more on how boldly the series responds to the risks now impossible to ignore.
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