More bad news for NZL SailGP Team

After New Zealand suffered a huge blow following the first day of racing at France Sail Grand Prix | Saint-Tropez when the wing of their F50 collapsed, the bad news continues as a replacement rig cannot be transported in time for the next event on September 23-24. As such, New Zealand will not be able to compete at Italy Sail Grand Prix in Taranto.

The league, which supplies the equipment, is now working towards a solution to get the Kiwi team back for the event on October 14-15 in Cádiz, Spain. Additionally, a review of SailGP rules around redress is underway with with all teams.

Following the full structural failure of the team’s wingsail, caused by the wing coming out of alignment, SailGP began investigating options to transport the fleet’s spare wing from New Zealand to Italy and fit it out such that it would be ready to race at the upcoming event.

But due to shipment timelines, along with the extensive setup and testing once it arrives on-site along with the short lead-time between events, it proved to be impossible to get the team on the start line in Taranto.

“We’re working closely with the league to chart a path forward from here,” said Wing trimmer and co-CEO Blair Tuke. “That includes reviewing the rules for redress and compensatory points to ensure this forced non participation does not further hinder our results this season.”

SailGP information – Taranto details – YouTube – How to watch

Season Standings (after three of 12 events; results and total points)
1. Australia (Tom Slingsby), 2-3-2; 26 points
2. Spain (Diego Botin), 5-1-3; 24
3. Denmark (Nicolai Sehested), 4-2-4; 23
4. Great Britain (Ben Ainslie), 7-6-1; 19
5. New Zealand (Peter Burling), 1-7-8; 17
6. United States (Jimmy Spithill), 9-5-5; 14
7. France (Quintin Delapierre), 6-8-6; 13
8. Canada (Phil Robertson), 3-4-10; 12
9. Switzerland (Sebastien Schneiter), 8-9-9; 7
10. Germany (Erik Heil), 10-10-7; 4
Notes:
• Canada SailGP Team: Docked four points in Season Championship for eight-point penalty at France Sail Grand Prix | Saint-Tropez
• Germany SailGP Team: Docked two points in Season Championship for four-point penalty at Oracle Los Angeles Sail Grand Prix

Season 4 – 2023
June 16-17 – Rolex United States Sail Grand Prix | Chicago at Navy Pier
July 22-23 – United States Sail Grand Prix | Los Angeles
September 9-10 – France Sail Grand Prix | Saint-Tropez
September 23-24 – Italy Sail Grand Prix | Taranto
October 14-15 – Spain Sail Grand Prix | Andalucía- Cádiz

Season 4 – 2024
January 13-14 – UAE Sail Grand Prix | Venue to be announced
February 24-25 – KPMG Australia Sail Grand Prix | Sydney
March 23-24 – ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix | Auckland
May 4-5 – Bermuda Sail Grand Prix
June 1-2 – Canada Sail Grand Prix | Venue to be announced
June 22-23 – United States Sail Grand Prix | New York
July 13-14 – SailGP Season 4 Grand Final | San Francisco

Format for Season 4:
• Teams compete in identical F50 catamarans.
• Each event runs across two days.
• Up to seven qualifying fleet races of approximately 15 minutes may be scheduled for each regatta.
• The top three teams from qualifying advance to a final race to be crowned event champion and earn the largest share of the $300,000.00 USD event prize money purse that’s divided among the top three teams.
• The season ends with the Grand Final, which includes the Championship Final Race for the top three teams in the season standing with the winner claiming the $1m USD prize.

For competition documents, click here.

Established in 2018, SailGP seeks to be an annual, global sports league featuring fan-centric inshore racing among national teams in some of the iconic harbors around the globe.