Olympic sailing: Tragic accident: Moth World Champion Gulari in hospital

The news came thick and fast on social networks on Thursday evening. According to consistent Italian media reports, the American Moth world champion Bora Gulari is said to have lost several fingers on his right hand in a training accident off La Grande Motte in France. The accident was preceded by a "nosedive" of the American Nacra17, as a result of which Gulari was thrown overboard. According to several reports, the catamaran's starboard foil hit the well-known sailor's right hand in the water. According to initial reports, foresailor Helena Scutt, with whom Gulari was aiming for a second Olympic start, was unharmed.

The magazine "Farevela" and other Italian media reported that Gulari was even in danger of drowning as a result of the fatal collision. Italian coach Gabriele Bruni pulled him out of the water and gave him emergency medical treatment, while at the same time quickly bringing the American ashore and calling an ambulance to the harbour on the way. The Italian media also describe the injury in detail according to his rescuer's report. YACHT online deliberately refrains from doing so. Gabriele Bruni used an antiseptic and accompanied Gulari to the hospital, where he received further care from the doctors and his own trainer. Bruni is quoted as saying: "He was not feeling well."

Bora Gulari, who is very popular in sailing circles, is a very experienced sailor when it comes to handling fast multihulls. The accident with the foils and rudders, which are so dangerously sharp at high speeds, is not the first to shock the sailing community. In December 2015, French Volvo Ocean Race winner and America's Cup skipper Franck Cammas almost lost a foot in a similar accident involving a GC32 catamaran. In June 2015, a woman on a support boat lost a leg at the start of a Volvo Ocean Race leg off Lorient after the trimaran "Spindrift 2", which was not itself taking part in the Volvo Ocean Race, ran over the small Rib and one of the oars hit the woman.

Supplement, 30 August, 11.20 pm. Bora Gulari's foresailor Helena Scutt wrote this about her helmsman's accident late on Wednesday evening: "Quite a shock for us here in La Grande Motte today. I didn't expect to end up back in a French hospital so soon. I would like to thank everyone for all the messages and sympathy! Bora was operated on immediately and we are now back 'home'. If there's one thing I learnt last time, it's this: What doesn't kill you makes you tougher! Don't expect Bora to let this one stop her. Thank you to everyone who has helped us make such great progress this year. We'll get the chance to show off our skills soon enough. But not this time. Send your healing powers to Bora! (Contrary to some reports, by the way, I didn't lose consciousness. Fortunately, I'm absolutely fine!")

Update, 31 August, 11.10 am: The American sailing association US Sailing has issued a statement on Bora Gulari's training accident. The initial reports that Gulari had lost four fingers as a result of the collision with the starboard foil were also corrected. Neither the one nor the other has been confirmed. Gulari lost parts of three fingers during a capsize in contact with the rig. Gulari is currently recovering from the operation and wants to return to sailing in four weeks. Gulari herself is also quoted: "This is an unfortunate setback. But Helena and I will come back and continue with our Olympic campaign for 2020 and I will definitely get back on the water as soon as possible. That should be the case in about a month." In addition to Italian coach Gabriele Bruni, British coach David Howlett also helped rescue Gulari, while Helena Scutt sailed the Nacra17 back to harbour with the help of Olympic champion Santi Lange. Lange had come to the team's aid from land. US Sailign and the sailors concerned expressly thanked all the helpers for their swift and prudent support.