Sailing champion Tom Slingsby has found it challenging to articulate the unfortunate conclusion to Team Australia’s SailGP campaign in San Francisco, which ended dramatically due to a potentially dangerous incident. During the final fleet race, the wing of the Australian boat collapsed into the water, narrowly avoiding colliding with the Italian boat as control was lost.
This incident marred what had been an impressive grand prix for the Australian team, which had already qualified for the final race. Slingsby described the moment as “a bit of a blur,” reflecting on the shock of the situation. He noted, “We were looking for a gap but realised there wasn’t going to be one,” leading to a sharp turn that may have caused the wing failure.
Fortunately, all crew members emerged uninjured from this alarming situation. However, the cause of the wing collapse is still unclear, prompting an investigation to determine whether it was a mechanical failure or a result of crew error. Slingsby expressed a desire to scrutinise all available footage to prevent a recurrence of such an incident.
Though disappointed with the sudden end to their hopes for victory—especially after their strong performance leading up to the incident—Slingsby prioritised the safety of his team. He stated that they are not focused on the lost points but rather on salvaging the boat and ensuring it is ready for the next event, the Rio de Janeiro Grand Prix on May 3.
Despite finishing in fourth place following the failure, Team Australia moved to the top of the season leaderboard, benefiting from Great Britain’s poor performance. Spain claimed victory in the event, with Canada taking second and France, who replaced Australia in the finals, finishing third.
As they prepare for the next race, the team is working diligently to repair their boat, hoping to bounce back after this concerning yet significant incident.