The Black Foils have been ruled out of tomorrow’s racing at the Oracle Perth Sail Grand Prix presented by KPMG due to damage sustained in an incident with Switzerland during today’s opening race.
Along with missing the day’s racing the team has also been handed a seven point penalty for the event and therefore will be deducted three season points. An eight point penalty was initially handed down but was reduced following an appeal.
The incident saw the Swiss collide with the port stern of the team’s F50. Both teams took no further part in the day’s racing. There were no injuries reported on either boat.
Black Foils Co-CEO and Driver Peter Burling said first and foremost the most important thing was that there were no injuries onboard either boat.
“It’s obviously concerning every time there is a collision or contact in the fleet and I am certainly glad everyone is alright. The impact was about a metre away from me and it left me pretty shaken. I am also concerned that the penalty decision sets a worrying precedent for the season and the safety of the fleet. We did everything we could to keep clear and I am not sure what else we could have done in the situation. It’s frustrating to have an incident like this but we just have to review from here and see what the situation is with the repairs.”
“We obviously saw the incident a different way to the Umpires so made an appeal and disagree with the subsequent outcome. They have made their decision and we have to deal with it now, but believe it sets a concerning precedent for the season. As we do with everything as a team we will reflect and review things but it’s certainly not the outcome we’d hoped for. It’s important now that we come together and use our time together here productively before Auckland.”
Burling added that the team would work hard with SailGP to get back on the water as soon as possible.
“Everyone has seen the extent of the damage – there is no transom on our boat – it means no racing for us tomorrow – will just have to see how quickly the league can rebuild the boat and see what the situation will be going forward.”
Work will continue tomorrow on the team’s F50 ahead of next month’s ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix | Auckland.
