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At today's press conference, the French staff's faces were still scarred by the collision with the New Zealand F50. Hull hit, bow torn off, port foil destroyed, cockpit damaged. The technical diagnosis prevented the boat from being repaired in time for the next leg in Sydney.
Beyond the material damage, it was the sailors' health that mobilized the management team.
Manon Audinet hospitalized, a psychological unit activated
Manon Audinet is currently hospitalized in Auckland. Thrown onto the port helm, she is suffering from the consequences of this impact, but remains under medical supervision as a precautionary measure. The other crew members suffered minor injuries.
Philippe Presti, team manager of the DS Automobiles SailGP Team France, points out that the impact goes beyond the sporting aspect. " An accident is not a trivial event, and everyone deals with it differently. We've set up a psychology unit to discuss the crash and deal with any after-effects. "
Quentin Delapierre insists on the absolute priority given to physical integrity. " My only concern was the safety of the athletes. I know the team will set up a follow-up. " Initial internal feedback indicates that the sailors are ready to get back on the water quickly.
F50 severely damaged, hull and foil out of service
From a technical point of view, the situation was grim. The port hull was destroyed, as was the foil on the same side. The bow has separated and the cockpit has been badly damaged. The entire structure and the wing will undergo in-depth analysis to detect any unseen weaknesses.
In the SailGP one-design format, the league is responsible for refitting the F50s. " SailGP is in charge of refitting the boat. We're working hard to get the boat ready for the Rio leg, says Stephan Kandler.
On the other hand, the deadline is too short for Sydney. Team France will be present on site with its partners, but will not be able to take the start of the races.
A sports exemption and discussions on compensation
The jury exonerated DS Automobiles SailGP Team France of any responsibility for the incident. The New Zealand team was awarded eight penalty points.
Stéphane Kandler, CEO of K Challenge, confirms the opening of discussions with the league. "In terms of compensation, in our case we are not responsible for the accident. We are in discussion with SailGP for compensation in terms of points. "
Despite this forced stop, the French team remains on the podium in the provisional overall standings at the end of Auckland.
Flying too high and losing control: a high-risk mechanical sport
Initial analysis revealed that the flight phase was too high. The boat rolled onto its side, the crew having failed to recover hydrodynamic grip. The following day, the Italian crew experienced a similar situation, with no major consequences.
Stéphane Kandler puts the incident into context. "SailGP is a very young and increasingly demanding circuit. As in all high-speed motorsports, this kind of incident must allow us to continue to improve safety. "
He adds that protective gear has already come a long way since the championship began. "At the start of SailGP, we sailed with a cap and a vest. Enormous progress has been made New areas of improvement are being studied, particularly in terms of in-flight control.
Quentin Delapierre doesn't question his way of sailing. The aim remains to analyze the sequence in detail in order to make progress.
Confirmed sporting momentum in 2026
Despite the shock, Philippe Presti insists on the team's sporting trajectory. " Despite this setback, the team's dynamic remains very positive. We've made a solid start to the 2026 season and, in Auckland, we clearly turned a corner in terms of performance by sailing at the head of the fleet. "
He emphasizes the in-depth work carried out. " A number of processes were put in place from a sporting point of view. We mixed experience, enthusiasm and youth to create something a little different. We have a 30% new crew, and we're working towards very precise and technical objectives. "
He added: " We have more positive points than last year. High performance means respecting and implementing effective processes in terms of the way we do things, the structure. We've made a quantum leap this year, and I'm delighted about that. "
The DS Automobiles SailGP Team France is now looking towards Rio. With an F50 back afloat, and the determination to turn this accident into a lever for progress.
