Dolphin problems for NZL SailGP

Christchurch, New Zealand (March 23, 2024) – Racing was canceled on the opening day of the New Zealand SailGP event due to mammal activity on the racecourse for the duration of the race window.

As racing was due to start at 3:00 pm local time, confirmation was received of a dolphin sighting on the racecourse. In line with SailGP protocol, racing was delayed to allow the dolphin to pass through safely but unfortunately it did not move outside the racecourse area, preventing racing from taking place.

“It was a really challenging day today and disappointing for the capacity crowd that turned out,” said SailGP Managing Director Andrew Thompson. “We have a marine mammal plan and that plan was in place and unfortunately it meant we couldn’t sail today.”

The risk to the Hector’s dolphins, known to frequent the natural amphitheater of Lyttelton Harbour, is well known and also impacted racing when SailGP held their first event at the venue a year ago.

Strong winds are forecast for tomorrow when racing get underway at 15:00 NZDT (22:00 EDT, March 23).

SailGP information – Christchurch details– YouTube – How to watch

Season Standings (after eight of 13 events; results and total points)
1. Australia (Tom Slingsby), 2-3-2-2-3-2-7-1; 66 points
2. New Zealand (Peter Burling), 1-7-8-DNC/6-4-1-1-3; 58
3. Denmark (Nicolai Sehested), 4-2-4-7-2-6-9-2; 52
4. Spain (Diego Botin), 5-1-3-6-6-10-2-5; 48
5. France (Quintin Delapierre), 6-8-6-4-7-4-4-4; 45
6. Great Britain (Ben Ainslie/Giles Scott), 7-6-1-1-8-5-8-7; 45
7. United States (Jimmy Spithill/Taylor Canfield), 9-5-5-3-1-8-3-9; 45
8. Canada (Phil Robertson), 3-4-10-5-5-3-6-10; 37
9. Germany (Erik Heil), 10-10-7-8-9-10-9-5-6; 21
10. Switzerland (Sebastien Schneiter), 8-9-9-9-7-10-8; 17

Scoring adjustments:
• 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
• Spain SailGP Team: Docked two points in Season Championship for four-point penalty at Spain Sail Grand Prix | Andalucía – Cádiz
• Switzerland SailGP Team: Docked four points in Season Championship for eight-point penalty at Mubadala Abu Dhabi Sail Grand Prix presented by Abu Dhabi Sports Council
• New Zealand SailGP Team: Granted six event points for ROCKWOOL Italy Sail Grand Prix | Taranto as unable to compete due to wing damage suffered at France Sail Grand Prix | Saint-Tropez

Season 4 – 2023
June 16-17 – 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
December 9-10 – Dubai Sail Grand Prix | Dubai*

Season 4 – 2024
January 13-14 – Abu Dhabi Sail Grand Prix | Abu Dhabi
February 24-25 – Australia Sail Grand Prix | Sydney
March 23-24 – New Zealand Sail Grand Prix | Auckland
March 23-24 – New Zealand Sail Grand Prix | Christchurch
May 4-5 – Bermuda Sail Grand Prix
June 1-2 – Canada Sail Grand Prix | Halifax
June 22-23 – United States Sail Grand Prix | New York
July 13-14 – SailGP Season 4 Grand Final | San Francisco
* Added October 3, 2023

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 (increases to $400k for Abu Dhabi with the winning team now earning $200k at each event).
• 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 $2 million USD prize.
• The top team on points ahead of the three-boat Championship Final will be awarded $350,000.00.

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.

Source: SailGP