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SailGP: Spectacular collision at start of Race 3 rips bow off Japan SailGP F50 + Video

by Richard Gladwell Sail-World NZ 17 Dec 2021 18:12 AEDT 17 December 2021
A Japan SailGP Team member helmed by sits on their damaged F50 catamaran after a collision with Great Britain SailGP Team © Bob Martin/SailGP

British SailGP helmsman, Ben Ainslie says he didn't see the JapanSailGP F50 catamaran below him at the start of Race 3 on Day 1 of SailGP Sydney raced this afternoon on Sydney harbour.

The British boat was to windward and sailing a lower course for the startline than the Nathan Outteridge helmed Japanese boat.

The Brits allowed the leeward hull to fly very high just before the collision and the starboard bow on the Japanese boat took the full impact of the collision with the port daggerboard of the British boat, shearing the bow off the Japanese boat.

Both teams were ruled out of that race due to the incident, and a further investigation will be held to determine whether the damage can be repaired in time for Race Day 2. As a result of the major damage caused to the Japanese boat, Great Britain were penalised six points in the event rankings, leaving them in seventh place.


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