Please select your home edition
Edition
Sunstorm Marine - Cup Holders - Sail

Aussies' final hopes end in dramatic wing collapse in San Fran

by Australia SailGP Team 24 Mar 05:07 UTC 22-23 March 2025

Tom Slingsby's Australia Team's hopes of making the Podium Final came crashing down on day two at the Oracle San Francisco Sail Grand Prix, as a catastrophic wing failure forced them out of contention, marking a devastating end for the Aussies in San Francisco.

The Australians had secured their seat in the Podium Final, sitting in equal first place on points to Spain, with one final fleet race to go before the finale on Super Sunday. The Australia F50 was in the start box of the seventh fleet race when the wing suddenly fell and collapsed around the crew.

Thankfully all athletes were accounted for and no injuries were reported, but the catastrophic damage meant the Australians were forced to retire from the race.

Still coming to terms with the incident, Australia Team Driver and CEO Tom Slingsby said, "It's heartbreaking, it's a very scary situation. We're all okay but when something like that happens, all you think about is if everyone is going to get through this. Fortunately we're all safe and that's the first priority."

With salvage under way, the SailGP Technical Team will now begin an in-depth analysis to determine what caused the incident.

"We've got to go look at the camera angles," Slingsby said. "We need to determine if it was a wing failure, or was there something else at play?"

The Spain SailGP Team was crowned the champions of the Oracle San Francisco Sail Grand Prix in the Podium Final against NorthStar Canada (2nd) and France (3rd). Despite the dramatic wing collapse, the Australia Team's dominant performance across the weekend has pushed them into first place on the overall 2025 Season Leaderboard.

After establishing that "everyone was okay", Slingsby said his thoughts turned to the condition of the boat ahead of the next event in Brazil. "Obviously the thoughts go to our season and if we can get replacements in time and be at the next event," he said. However he said his biggest priority was "figuring out what happened."

The SailGP Technical Team will spend the coming days assessing the damage and the repairs required to the Flying Roo, with the goal of having the Australia Team racing at the next event, the Enel Rio Sail Grand Prix taking place on May 3-4 2025.

Related Articles

Meet the Grand Soleil Blue
The ultimate weekender with a sustainable build Grand Soleil Yachts has taken its first step on a new path with the launch of its first true weekender, the Grand Soleil Blue. Posted today at 1:55 pm
OOC delivers $133 billion for ocean action
Urgent challenges remain to meet global deadlines in a pivotal year for the ocean The Our Ocean Conference (OOC) has mobilized $133 billion in funding for ocean action over the past decade, according to a new report launched today by World Resources Institute (WRI) to mark the conference's 10th anniversary. Posted on 29 Apr
Ella Hibbert starts Solo Arctic Circumnavigation
A record-breaking voyage to spotlight a vanishing Arctic British sailor embarks on a record-breaking voyage to spotlight a vanishing Arctic and spark global climate action. Posted on 29 Apr
MMAG calls for vigilance and reporting
Seasonal alert and call to action survey for all mariners and offshore sailors As spring awakens in the Northern Hemisphere, a powerful migration is under way - not just of boats returning north from winter sailing grounds in the Caribbean, but of whales traveling thousands of miles. Posted on 29 Apr
A look inside the Spirit Yachts yard
A close look at what makes their yachts unique Traditional skills in boatbuilding could be regarded as a lost art from a bygone era. In the world of fibreglass and carbon, the joinery and laminating techniques of wood ribs and cedar strips are a thing of the past. Posted on 28 Apr
85th Anniversary of Operation Dynamo drawing near
Preparations are progressing well for the sailing from Ramsgate to Dunkirk The date for the Association of Dunkirk Little Ships (ADLS) fleet sailing from Ramsgate to Dunkirk is drawing ever nearer, and preparations are progressing well for this, the Dynamo 85 return. Posted on 27 Apr
Grand Soleil Blue: Finally in the water
Designed for those who want to enjoy sailing in total independence The official video of the Grand Soleil BLUE is now online: a yacht that redefines the concept of contemporary sailing: free, spontaneous, elegant, and sustainable. Posted on 26 Apr
Smarter at the Dock, Safer at Sea
How Upgrades Are Changing Cruising The service being offered by yacht manufacturers leaps forward every year - responding to a market which demands the highest quality in every aspect. Posted on 25 Apr
A+T Instruments 10th Anniversary Celebrations
"We set out to make the World's Best Yacht Instruments" Globally recognised yacht instruments company A+T Instruments is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year after a decade of successful growth by pushing the boundaries of quality and customer service. Posted on 25 Apr
Leopard Catamarans unveils Leopard 46
This innovative sailing catamaran marks a bold advancement in design, technology, and comfort Leopard Catamarans, a world-renowned leader in sailing and power catamarans, is excited to introduce its latest model: the Leopard 46. Posted on 25 Apr
Noble Marine 2022 SW - FOOTEROcean Safety 2023 - New Identity - FOOTERMarine Products Direct 2023 - Calypso FOOTER