SailGP: New Zealand win dramatic ‘demolition derby’ in Christchurch

Sunday, 24 March 2024

New Zealand won the SailGP regatta in Christchurch for the first time.
Sir Russell Coutts lashes out, again, at those who he believes are making it difficult to stage the event at Lyttleton Harbour.
The Australian boat was badly damaged in the opening fleet race and couldn’t continue.

A series of heavy verbal punches unleashed by Sir Russell Coutts were followed by chaotic action on the water as Peter Burling and his New Zealand boat Black Foils emerged victorious from what one driver called a 'demolition derby'' when the SailGP event finally got its chance to show its true colours on Sunday afternoon.

'About time,'' many of the 11,000 fans said when sailing began on the second and final day of the event on Lyttelton Harbour, after the first day was cancelled because a dolphin lingered near the start of the course.

New Zealand won the final match race at the Sail GP event in Lyttelton harbour.

This was what everyone wanted.

When the spectators travelled through the tunnel to the harbour from the big smoke of Christchurch, they crossed their fingers in the hope that Burling and his team could qualify for the final in what would prove to be challenging conditions after limited preparation.

Burling and his mates didn't disappoint. And by claiming the victory, they now top the overall leaderboard ahead with four events left on the calendar.

“It was absolutely an incredible day,’’ Burling said after the victory.

“I think, to me, it has been the best day in SailGP history, right at the top-end of that configuration. Awesome, tight racing; such a massive crowd cheering everyone on. It has been just unreal.’’

New Zealand treated their local fans with a victory at Christchurch SailGP event.

New Zealand beat France (Quentin Delapierre) and Canada (Phil Robertson) in the final, at times reaching 70kph in winds of around 34kph, after making a blistering start on Black Foils.

The locals had been rewarded for their patience, proving that good things, indeed, come to those who wait for the 50-foot foilers go to work on the briny.

And they most certainly had to bide their time, after all the dithering, and ultimately disappointment, on Saturday.

Australia crash into a marker during race one of the SailGP event in Lyttelton harbour.

Drama? There was loads of it, and not all of it involved the F50 catamarans clashing on the waves as SailGP chief executive officer Coutts got a truckload of grievances off his chest, which doesn't bode well for Christchurch's chances of hosting the event again. But more about that later.

Canada's Kiwi driver Robertson summed things up perfectly when he described the fleet racing as a 'demolition derby''.

The New Zealand boat, dubbed Black Foils, was too good in the final.

Tom Slingsby and his Australian boat came to grief after it ploughed into a marker on the second leg of the first race, in an effort to avoid a collision with Robertson's vessel.

It proved a significant moment.

With the log leaders out of action, the dogfight at times got intense and for the New Zealand boat it was good news; the Kiwis finished first, fourth and second in the fleet races to be top qualifier for the final.

Denmark also crunched into Canada at the start of the opening race, a hole in the bow threatening to derail their day, before making a shock decision to continue. Damage limitation was their sole goal after that setback.

With all three fleet races scrapped on the first day, organisers arranged for three fleet races and the final, an advance of the usual two fleet races and final, on Sunday.

The New Zealand team savours success in Lyttelton.

But the biggest scrap kicked off when SailGP chief executive officer Coutts again stepped into the eye of the storm as he fought his corner against what he perceived to be the 'extreme'' marine mammal mandatory protocols forced upon it by the Department of Conversation, ECan and local iwi.

Having previously had a dig at those he believed responsible for making him want to take the event away from Christchurch, and potentially New Zealand, Coutts fired shots in all directions before the start of racing on Sunday; he made a lengthy statement on NewstalkZB to air his grievances, his mood darkened by the lack of action on Saturday due to the mammal sighting.

Burling wants the event to stay.

“I just think it’s crazy. We have got the best home fans in the world. Just seeing how many people came down here to cheer us on, it has been the best day in SailGP history by a mile, we have loved absolutely every minute of it.

“We are doing everything we can to get the event back in New Zealand for sure.’’

At least Coutts would have been happy to see fans welcome a Kiwi team win after Robertson and Canada won the final last year.

Whether SailGP will return to Christchurch again is anyone's guess. But, on Sunday, the upside down smiles had been replaced with the opposite. The spectators, at last, had something to cheer about.

SailGP points: New Zealand 68, Australia 67, Spain 55, France 54, Denmark 50, United States 48, Canada 46, Great Britain 45, Germany 27, Switzerland 22.