SailGP Auckland crash: France share new footage of Black Foils collision; Manon Audinet remains in hospital

The French SailGP Team have shared a glimpse of their on-board response in the immediate aftermath of their major crash with New Zealand’s Black Foils in Auckland on Saturday.

The footage, posted onto the team’s Instagram page, shows the moments leading up to the impact as it became clear they were going to crash and goes on board after the impact.

French strategist Manon Audinet remains under observation at Auckland Hospital after being transported for further assessment due to concerns of internal injuries.

In a statement, the French team said the 34-year-old was doing well.

“Manon is in good hands. Following the shock, and the numerous bruises it has caused, she remains under close medical supervision at an Auckland Hospital for some time. She is fully taken care of by local medical teams,” the statement said.

“Our priority is Manon’s speedy recovery. The whole team stands by him and gives him their full support. Our thoughts also go out to the New Zealand team and its members involved in this accident.”

Audinet was one of two sailors hospitalised after the crash, with Black Foils grinder Louis Sinclair suffering compound fractures in both legs and requiring surgery on his right leg. An investigation into the incident is ongoing.

Sinclair, 34, had surgery overnight on Saturday, with the Black Foils confirming on Sunday morning that the operation had gone well.

The team shared a photo of Sinclair on Instagram last night showing the grinder was already able to be back on his feet.

As the G2 grinder, the frontmost position on the boat with his back to the racecourse, Sinclair was the closest to the impact zone when the French hull went over the top of the New Zealand boat.

Audinet, whose Kiwi partner Jason Saunders is the flight controller on the French boat, was said to have been “violently thrown” inside her cockpit, with enough force to break the steering wheel. At the time of the crash, Audinet was in the driver’s cockpit at the back of the left hull, which is the side that crashed into the Black Foils’ boat.

While confirming Audinet remained under observation in Auckland Hospital, the French team also confirmed they would not be competing in the next SailGP event in Sydney in two weeks.

Both their F50 and the Black Foils’ suffered major damage in the collision and were being shipped to SailGP Technologies in Southampton to be repaired.

Fixing the French boat will be the priority for the tech team when it arrives. Because the Black Foils were deemed to be at fault for the incident, the French boat will be fixed first and could even take working parts from the Black Foils’ vessel if possible.

It is hoped the French will be back for the April event in Rio de Janeiro, with their next chance to return after that being in Bermuda in May.

For the Black Foils, they face a long wait on the sidelines as their vessel is repaired.

SailGP are also in the process of building a 14th boat, with another new team joining the fleet next year, however that F50 isn’t due to be completed until June.

Christopher Reive joined the Herald sports team in 2017, bringing the same versatility to his coverage as he does to his sports viewing habits.