Craziest crash in SailGP history?

The Australia Sail Grand Prix was one of the most intense SailGP events yet, as Sydney Harbour hosted thrilling and dramatic racing on December 17-18.

Not only did the Aussies win on home waters to delight the watching crowds, but one of the most terrifying crashes in the global championship’s history also took place.

During the pre-start of the third fleet race on Day 1, Great Britain collided with Japan, causing serious damage to Nathan Outteridge’s team’s F50 to rule them out the remainder of the event.

Ben Ainslie, the British Driver, admitted he was at fault for the incident and offered Great Britain’s F50 to Outteridge so Japan could take part in Race Day 2. The offer was accepted, and Outteridge’s team utilized a hybrid boat – comprising the British hull and Japanese wing and foils – to win the final two fleet races and only missing out on a place in the winner-takes-all Final by just a single point.

The incident on Sydney Harbour was frightening as neither team saw it coming, which gave the crew little time to prepare. With footage of the crash from all angles, it is easy to see how close it came to something much worse. You can watch the footage, below…

SailGP Season 2 will conclude with the United States Sail Grand Prix, including the championship-deciding Grand Final, on March 26-27, 2022

Final Results – Australia Sail Grand Prix
1. Australia, 3-7-1-4-2-(1); 28
2. USA, 6-3-2-3-4-(2); 27
3. Spain, 1-2-3-6-6-(3); 27
4. Japan, 7-1-7-1-1; 26
5. New Zealand, 5-8-5-2-3; 22
6. Denmark, 4-5-4-7-5; 20
7. France,8-6-6-5-7; 11
8. Great Britain, 2-4-7-8-8; 6
Great Britain SailGP Team penalized six points
France SailGP Team penalized two points

SailGP information – Sydney details – Facebook

How to watch – Results – Noticeboard – SailGP Insights

SailGP Season Championship (after 7 events)
1. Australia, 55 pts
2. United States, 53 pts
3. Japan, 51 pts
4. Spain, 43 pts
5. New Zealand, 42 pts
6. Great Britain, 41 pts
7. Denmark, 38 pts
8. France, 35 pts

Format for SailGP events:
• Teams compete in identical F50 catamarans.
• Each event runs across two days.
• There are three races on each day, totaling six races at each event.
• The opening five fleet races involve every team.
• Race scoring provides 8 points for first, 7 points for second, etc.
• The final race in each event pits the three highest ranking teams against each other to be crowned event champion.
• The season ends with the Grand Final, which includes the Championship Final Race for the top three teams from the season ranking for a winner-takes-all match race for the $1m prize.

SailGP Season 2 Schedule*
April 24-25, 2021 – Bermuda Grand Prix
June 5-6, 2021 – Italy Grand Prix – Taranto
July 17-18, 2021 – Great Britain Grand Prix – Plymouth
August 20-21, 2021 – ROCKWOOL Denmark Grand Prix – Aarhus
September 11-12, 2021 – France Grand Prix – Saint-Tropez
October 9-10, 2021 – Spain Grand Prix – Andalusia
December 17-18, 2021 – Australia Grand Prix – Sydney
January 29-30, 2022 – New Zealand Grand Prix – Christchurch (CANCELLED)
March 26-27, 2022 – United States Grand Prix – San Francisco (Season 2 Grand Final)
*Subject to change

2021-22 Teams, Helm
Australia, Tom Slingsby
Denmark, Nicolai Sehested
France, Quentin Delapierre
Great Britain, Ben Ainslie (alternate – Paul Goodison)
Japan, Nathan Outteridge
New Zealand, Peter Burling (alternate – Arnaud Psarofaghis)
Spain, Jordi Xammar (alternate – Phil Robertson)
United States, Jimmy Spithill

Established in 2018, SailGP seeks to be an annual, global sports league featuring fan-centric inshore racing in some of the iconic harbors around the globe. Rival national teams compete in identical F50 catamarans with the season culminating with a $1 million winner-takes-all match race.

Source: SailGP