SailGP: Collisions, breakage and penalty points - Team Germany under pressure

For the sixth time in SailGP history, Sydney will be the venue for a showdown in the world's fastest sailing league this weekend. The historic first SailGP regatta took place Down Under in February 2019. For the second time since entering the league, the Germany SailGP team with helmsman Erik Heil will also be looking to continue its ascent on the varied race course.

Team Germany: with minus into the SailGP weekend

However, the team made this more difficult than expected in practice on Friday. After two collisions with Brazil and Italy, the German team's penalty points account could swell to a serious 24 points by Saturday morning. Twelve penalty points have already been handed down by the jury. A dozen more are on the cards. What happened?

Grinder Jonathan Knottnerus-Meyer explains: "In a crash, we took a small piece of the boat off the back of the Italians. There were twelve penalty points for that, which is a lot. In the second crash with the Brazilians, we thought we would make it through before them in a classic port-starboard situation. We didn't manage that. We wanted to get out of the way, they wanted to get out of the way. It was unfortunate that we ended up running into each other."

Her bow came between our two hulls once." Jonathan Knottnerus-Meyer

Jonas Knottnerus-Meyer described the further consequences as follows: "There was also boat contact. A few small pieces of carbon were broken. Nothing dramatic, but some damage. It's not quite clear yet how many penalty points we'll get. I suspect it will be twelve penalty points." The decision in Sydney is not expected until Saturday morning, late in the evening or during the night German time.

Up to 24 penalty points for the German team

Should the Germany SailGP Team actually accumulate 24 penalty points, helmsman Erik Heil, strategist Anna Barth, wing trimmer Stuart Bithell, flight controller James Wierzbowski, grinders Felix van den Hövel, Jonathan Knottnerus-Meyer, Will Tiller and their coaches Lennart Briesenick and Phil Robertson will have a very high mountain to climb between the Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge.

What was wrong, so to speak, was the risk we took on a training day. Our attitude to risk was not optimal." Jonathan Knottnerus-Meyer.

The penalties for collisions in the SailGP are deliberately severe to prevent the teams from getting into dangerously close situations in the fast-paced battle and to minimise the risk of accidents and breakages. For comparison: The Danish Rockwool SailGP team "only" received two penalty points in Auckland for a "collision" with a course mark.

A look at the results of the Auckland summit in January shows that the teams in eighth to eleventh place (Germany SailGP Team) had not collected a total of 24 points: After seven fleet races up to the final, the teams in eighth place (Germany SailGP Team) to eleventh place with 20 to 18 points had not been able to collect a total of 24 points, which could now be deducted from the German racing team even before the start of the regatta.

"Huge block on the leg"

The optimistic outlook for the Sydney event in Down Under has therefore darkened. "Theoretically, in the worst case scenario, we start the third matchday with minus 24 points. I think you can say that that's a huge block on our leg," said Jonathan Knottnerus-Meyer, summarising the challenging situation for his team.

On Friday evening in the former Olympic metropolis, it was also realised that the German boat had also suffered damage: Holes on the port side pluck and further damage to the stern. According to initial estimates, the damage can be repaired overnight by the SailGP tech team, but Team Germany will probably not be able to take up its training slot on Saturday morning. The setback is unfortunate for a team in forward gear.

Apart from the penalties, the training day had been very promising. The Germans finished third behind Australia and New Zealand in the first training race. Looking ahead to the second race, Jonathan Knottnerus-Meyer said: "We made up ground on the boats and sailed stable upwind and downwind modes. We felt good."

US team already capsized in tow

The Kiel doctor and grinder continued: "Apart from these two really stupid situations, it was a day with a good performance from us. Now, of course, we hope that we can show this momentum again with good sailing at the weekend and round off the event better than it looks now."

It wasn't just the German team that suffered on this training day. The US team with helmsman Taylor Canfield capsized while being towed out. The wing sail was so badly damaged that the Americans missed the valuable training day. The Danish Rockwool team almost capsized, while the French experienced their first of two heavy nosedives in just one day just seconds later.

Winds of 14 to 18 knots are expected for the race weekend in Sydney Harbour on Saturday afternoon local time, with gusts of up to 21 knots. After having to retire twice because their boat was not yet ready to race, the French are back in the SailGP for the first time this season. This means that for the first time in SailGP history, a complete dozen F50 Bullets will be on the starting line in what are expected to be crisp conditions.

SailGP conductor Russell Coutts has the floor

The top favourites in their home turf are the resurgent Australian record winners around Tom Slingsby. In his customary "The Russell Report" before the start of the regatta, SailGP founder and conductor Russell Coutts gave an insight into his current thoughts on the balance of power in the league. His forewarning: "The teams will prioritise starts. If you have bad starts, it will be very difficult to find clear lanes and free wind."

The New Zealanders, who narrowly missed out on the final in January's home game before Auckland, received a few side blows from their compatriot. Russell Coutts said: "The Kiwis will definitely need to get off to a better start if they are to have any chance of beating the Australians and some of the other teams. On the other hand, they are good at picking their way through a crowded fleet. In fact, their fourth place in Auckland was incredible considering their poor starts."

Russell Coutts also applauded the appointment of German driver Phil Robertson, who was still a furious driver himself in season four, as second coach for this weekend. Alongside Flensburg coach Lennart Briesenick, Robertson is standing in for Italian Jacopo Plazzi Marzotto, who is a father and therefore taking a break this weekend. Coutts said with regard to Robertson's guest appearance: "I think it's a smart move." Click here for the season standings after two of 14 events.

"Fantastic" Sassnitz event ahead

On the German team, Russell Coutts said: "Erik Heil and the team are more than capable as sailors - but having someone like Phil behind the scenes will help them realise some of the things they need to refine more quickly to become more competitive."

Coutss continued with an outlook: "Later this season we will be organising our first event in Sassnitz in Germany. Judging by ticket sales so far - we've already had to triple the capacity of the grandstand - it's going to be a fantastic event with lots of spectators, so Erik and the team want to sail well in front of their home crowd."

The first SailGP showdown in a German sailing area is underway. Ticket sales here continue. The German premiere will take place on 16 and 17 August off Sassnitz. In addition to grandstand seats (grandstands on the water) at a price of 76 euros per person, there is also the option of purchasing exclusive boat seats ("Bring your own boat") at a price of 475 euros - according to the organisers, this allows you to experience the regatta from your own boat directly on the race course.

The races can be watched live on Saturday and Sunday in the early hours of the morning from 5 a.m. via SailGP YouTube channel or SailGP app. Click here for the SailGP programme on ZDF and the race action from Sydney, which will be broadcast with German commentary on both race days from 10am.

Entertaining and informative! This is what the SailGP protagonists had to say at the pre-event press conference for the upcoming battle in Sydney Harbour: