There was a huge collision between the Blackfoils and DSTeam France, resulting in two sailors receiving serious injuries and receiving treatment.
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Published February 14, 2026
One sailor was hospitalized with broken legs and another was injured after yachts representing New Zealand and France collided at high speed on the first day of the SailGP race in Auckland, New Zealand on Saturday.
The New Zealand team announced that Lewis Sinclair is undergoing treatment for compound fractures in both legs. Sinclair, a grinder on a New Zealand yacht, turns the winch to adjust the sails.
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“Blackfoils grinder Louis Sinclair sustained injuries to both legs in a collision with a French rider during today’s race and is in a stable condition in Auckland Hospital,” the New Zealand team said in a statement. “Sinclair is being treated for compound fractures in both legs, but is in stable condition.”
Sailors from the French team were also injured.
The crash occurred in the third of four SailGP races scheduled for Saturday. As the 13-boat convoy approached the first gate at a speed of almost 90 km/h (56 mph), the New Zealand yacht lost control and spun into the path of the French.
The French boat ran aground on top of the New Zealand boat, severely damaging both boats and locking them together. Racing for the day was canceled until the injured sailor was brought to shore and taken to hospital and the damaged boat was recovered.
“I think everyone is pretty shocked, the New Zealand team and us,” French driver Quentin Delapierre said. “I have the full support of the New Zealand team and my teammates as well. I hope they can recover from this situation.”
“Everything happened so fast that my mind was pretty cloudy. I tried my best to avoid a collision, but obviously things happened too quickly. I didn’t have time to react and steer the boat. It was a very scary situation.”
According to television footage, the New Zealand ship lost rudder and swerved in front of the French ship, unable to avoid a collision.
New Zealand have just returned from a clash with Switzerland in the first match of the season in Perth, Australia, which was won by Great Britain. New Zealand driver Peter Burling received deductions from his supersailing license for his role in the crash.
In SailGP, teams from 13 countries race on the same 50-foot catamaran. The catamaran rises from the water on foils and can reach speeds of 100 km (60 mph).
Two races finished on the Saturday before the crash. Australia won the first, and New Zealand won the second. The race on Sunday, the second day, will start early due to the threat of thunderstorms.
