SAILGP – UNITED STATES OUT OF RACING IN SYDNEY AFTER CAPSIZE

SAILGP – UNITED STATES

The United States will not race in Sydney this weekend after damage was sustained to the team’s F50 during a capsize on Friday.

The American team was being towed to the racecourse to begin practice racing when the U.S. F50 suddenly capsized. The incident caused extensive damage, which could not be repaired ahead of racing.

The incident was caused by the wing being cambered while the U.S. F50 was being towed, which meant the wing turned against the wind. This was caused by a crew member pressing the wing invert button. Speaking about the incident, SailGP data analyst David Rey said it was ‘very similar’ to the cause of the United States capsize in Bermuda last season.

“Unfortunately, they sustained very severe damage to the front of the wing,” he added.

The team will receive zero points for each race this weekend, resulting in a 0 point score for the event. Additionally, the team has been docked 12 event points and 8 season points after the umpires ruled the team infringed Rule 57, which penalizes a team for causing damage to its F50 that it was reasonable to avoid.

Speaking about the incident, Red Bull Italy CEO Jimmy Spithill said: “Towing is something you’ve really got to be onto and paying attention to because it can just happen so quickly on these boats.”