SailGP: US team capsizes off Bermuda - sailors without serious injuries, wings damaged
Tatjana Pokorny
· 03.05.2024
Taylor Canfield had imagined his stint in the former America's Cup area off Bermuda differently. The American helmsman wanted to attack this weekend. Instead, his team capsized in training on Friday. According to the organisers, what looked dramatic turned out to be harmless and without any major injuries for the crew after they went through safety training. But not for the mighty wing sail, which was badly damaged when it capsized near the teams from New Zealand and Great Britain.
The boat was salvaged as quickly as possible. The investigation into the damage continued in the evening. "The wing is massively damaged," reported US CEO and athlete Mike Buckley. It was not yet clear what impact the capsize and its consequences would have on the race weekend. "It was an unfortunate accident. Luckily nobody was injured," said Buckley shortly after the capsize. It could have been much worse. He was glad about the safety training that all crews have to complete. This has now had an effect.
Germany SailGP Team: ahead in training
The remaining time in the training race passed without incident. The crew led by two-time Olympic bronze medallist Erik Heil from Strande near Kiel crossed the finish line first with an average speed of more than 60 kilometres per hour. "Although we try not to focus so much on the ranking, we realise with every race that we are making enormous progress. Our hard work is paying off. This gives us a boost of motivation, especially for the upcoming race weekend," says Erik Heil.
In the press conference with all the skippers, Heil had also previously pointed out that his team was still on a steep learning curve. The driver of the Germany SailGP team said: "We have a lot of work to do. We were lucky last time that so many teams had crashes and we were able to finish the regatta a little higher up in the rankings. But we were still very bad at the starts. We worked very hard on that for this event."
Back in the German team is 49er-FX helmswoman Sophie Steinlein from the Norddeutscher Regatta Verein. She has just returned from the Last Chance Regatta in Hyères, where she, Marla Bergmann and Hanna Wille (Mühlenberger Segel-Club) supported their team-mates from the German Sailing Team in successfully securing a place for Germany in the Olympic women's skiff.
Strategist Steinlein: first flight controller, then helm
After more than a month away from the SailGP, Sophie Steinlein and the entire team were delighted to finally be able to fly the furious F50 again under the German flag. And in the dream spot off Bermuda. Sophie Steinlein had to master several position changes. The 22-year-old athlete reported: "Firstly, I was allowed to fly the F50 in the flight controller position and then I was also at the controls for a while. That was really great."
At the press conference for all ten SailGP skippers, America's Cup defender and 49er Olympic champion Peter "Pistol Pete" Burling was in an attacking mood. When asked whether it's better to sail offensively or defensively in the SailGP, the helmsman of the Kiwis, who are leading the season standings and want to defend the America's Cup off Barcelona in the autumn, laughed and said: "I think everyone here is offensive, especially Phil."
The cheerful little side blow was aimed at his compatriot Phil Robertson from Team Canada, who has already been voted the most aggressive helmsman in the paddock and who likes to be aggressive on the short SailGP courses. However, Robertson pointed out that his team had been "crashed" by three teams at the last SailGP regatta in Christchurch, New Zealand. When asked about rumours that Team Canada was up for sale, Phil Robertson responded with a short answer: "No comment."
SailGP: Discussion about high penalties for collisions
Another controversial topic at the press conference was the league's high penalty points for teams that cause collisions. At the New Zealand summit, the teams from Australia (12 penalty points for the Christchurch regatta, 8 minus points for the season ranking), Great Britain and Denmark (both 8 penalty points for the Christchurch regatta, 4 minus points for the season ranking) paid dearly for their mistakes. Several skippers feel that the penalties are too high.
The fact that the SailGP is often dangerously close at high speeds can be seen on the water and in the live broadcasts. The organisers of the series, at the end of which the season winners alone collect two million US dollars, want to use the painful penalties to protect the crews from overly brash manoeuvres and the boats from too much damage.
Peter Burling explained the dilemma: "It's extremely tight here in the SailGP. I think the other boats would get on top of anyone with too defensive an attitude. At the level that the SailGP is at now, if you don't push super hard, you won't even get close to the top." At high speeds, there is a very fine line between being offensive and dangerous.
Live broadcast on WedoTV
The races of the Apex Group Bermuda Sail Grand Prix will take place on Saturday and Sunday (4 and 5 May 2024). The live broadcast with German commentary can be seen on WedoTV from 7 pm on both days. Top and Olympic sailors Tobias Schadewaldt and Thomas Plößel will commentate on the action on both race days. Click here to go directly to the broadcast.
