“It’s probably part of the equation, but it’s way more complicated than this, so I don’t want to say too much,” he said.
“It was a scary one, probably the scariest I’ve ever experienced. Full support to team New Zealand and same for my teammates, hopefully everyone is OK.”
Rescue boats were quick to the scene. Credit: SailGP
It was the second collision in as many races for team New Zealand whose boat was only recommissioned the day before racing, after an incident with Switzerland in Perth forced extensive repairs.
Spectators lined up to watch the broken catamarans as they were pulled by support boats into Wynyard Basin off Waitemata Harbour. The French catamaran was missing a substantial part of its left hull which was being dragged separately, while the New Zealand catamaran suffered far more substantial damage.
Delapierre was still hopeful that France would be able to race on Sunday.
New Zealand’s catamaran was more damaged in the aftermath. Credit: Simon Bruty for SailGP
“We’ll see what happens, for the moment it looks difficult for us to race tomorrow but nothing’s impossible so we’ll see.”
Brazil’s driver Martine Grael said she knew it was a serious incident because the tone of voice used when calling off the race was more grave than she’d heard before.
“We were just so focused on racing we kept on going. But, when we heard the tone of the voice, we knew it was quite serious,” she said. “I struggle because there’s people out there, and we know more or less everybody. I think everybody’s quite shaken because we wish the best for the sailors that are recovering.”
SailGP issued a statement following the races which read: “Following a major collision between New Zealand and Frances on day one of the Auckland Sail Grand Prix, two athletes have been treated for injuries but are in stable condition. All other crew members have been accounted for onboard.”
SailGP did not identify the injured sailors.
Australia won the first of the two completed races in Auckland and sit in second in the season’s standings after the first grand prix in Perth last month.
This masthead travelled to Auckland as a guest of SailGP.
