Overview
- Two sailors were taken to hospital in stable condition, with New Zealand grinder Louis Sinclair treated for compound fractures to both legs and France's Manon Audient kept under observation pending tests.
- The collision occurred at the start of race three as boats accelerated toward the first gate, with France riding over New Zealand and both F50s sustaining heavy damage and becoming locked together.
- Racing was abandoned for the rest of day one, and New Zealand and France will not compete on Sunday due to the extent of the damage.
- SailGP said Sunday’s program will run with split fleets of six to reduce congestion on the tight Auckland course, with 11 F50s set to race under the revised format.
- Video replays suggested the New Zealand boat lifted and lost rudder control before veering into France, and the incident has renewed scrutiny of course size after the league's expansion to 13 boats and a prior New Zealand crash in Perth.