SailGP: French score a hat-trick on Day 1 of KPMG Australia Sail Grand Prix Sydney
by SailGP/Sail-World.com/nz 18 Feb 2023 21:47 AEDT
18 February 2023
USA SailGP Team helmed by Jimmy Spithill on Race Day 1 of the KPMG Australia Sail Grand Prix in Sydney © Felix Diemer for SailGP
Quentin Delapierre’s FranceSailGP team won all three races sailed on the first day of racing in the KPMG Australia Sail Grand Prix Sydney sailed on the iconic Sydney Harbour.
The French rose to the challenge of 26kt wind conditions to dominate fleet racing, while Jimmy Spithill’s United States kept their San Francisco hopes alive by picking up three second place positions and finishing in second overall.
Home favorites Australia meanwhile was plagued by technical issues, but still managed a respectable racing record of 3-4-6 to finish third after three fleet races.
The dramatic first day was plagued by technical issues, near capsizes, messy maneuvers and even an Emirates Great Britain SailGP Team crew member falling overboard during the first fleet race.
Emirates GBR grinder Matt Gotrel fell through the fairing of the foiling F50 catamaran as the team approached the finish line while traveling at speeds of 50 km/h.
Gotrel remained attached to the F50 via his safety line and was quickly pulled back on board by his teammates with no injuries reported. The team went on to finish the race in sixth place and picked up a record of 6-6-2 across the first day.
The first fleet race began with Australia announcing it would not be able to race due to technical issues before the gold and green F50 dramatically crossed the start line. Despite issues, the team held on throughout messy maneuvers to finish the race in third overall.
Meanwhile, Peter Burling’s New Zealand, currently second in the Championship standings, was forced to retire from the first race due to a faulty valve controlling the hydraulic pressure for raising the starboard daggerboard. They finished the day in sixth overall, one point behind Denmark in fifth.
Elsewhere, Diego Botin’s second day behind the wheel of the Spanish F50 resulted in the team picking up a 8-5-9 racing record, with promising moments throughout.
After the racing had concluded for the day, and as the wingsails were being removed from the F50 catamarans, the Canadian wingsail broke loose, seriously damaging two tents. Other damage is yet to be confirmed.
Racing has been cancelled on Sunday.