During a practice session for the German Sail Grand Prix in Sassnitz, the France SailGP team endured a terrifying incident that saw their F50 catamaran suffer a catastrophic failure. While performing a high-speed “bear-away” maneuver, the starboard rudder snapped off the back of the boat. The loss of the rudder caused an immediate and violent deceleration, and the boat’s nose plunged into the water at over 90 km/h. The sight of the multi-million-dollar carbon fiber hydrofoil detaching and soaring into the air was an alarming spectacle.
The impact of the nosedive sent shockwaves through the crew. Driver Quentin Delapierre was violently flung forward and suffered a “nasty face-plant” into the cockpit, according to a report from The Athletic. After being rushed to the hospital for precautionary checks, Delapierre was thankfully cleared of any serious injury.
The incident was not isolated. In a frightening few moments, and on the same leg of the practice race, the Mubadala Brazil team’s F50 also suffered a devastating structural failure, with a front crossbeam collapsing and the catamaran folding under. Both incidents highlighted the inherent dangers of racing the high-tech F50s and served as a stark reminder of the sport’s high-octane nature.
In a testament to the resilience of the SailGP teams, the France crew, with the tireless support of the league’s shore team, worked feverishly overnight to repair their vessel. The monumental effort was a success, and France was cleared to compete in the main event. In a twist of fate that demonstrated their spirit and determination, the France team went on to win the German Grand Prix, completing a stunning comeback from the near-disaster.
The rudder failure ultimately prompted a major change. Following the incidents in Sassnitz, SailGP introduced new, reinforced rudders for all F50s at the next event in Saint-Tropez to prevent a similar failure.
