Spain’s Los Gallos were forced to withdraw from competition after damage sustained to their daggerboard cases in windy conditions during pre-event practice.
With no racing in Perth, the Spanish squad reportedly turned its focus to an intensive repair programme, partnering closely with SailGP’s engineers to rebuild damaged foil cases and restore onboard systems vital for performance and safety.
Meanwhile, the Black Foils’ F50 suffered significant damage in a collision with Switzerland during the opening act in Perth. A few days after the boat arrived in New Zealand a new hull section fabricated by the SailGP Tech Centre in the UK was delivered.
Marine engineers and members of the shore crew then worked around the clock to marry the new components back into the existing platform and bring the boat back to its full structural integrity.
The scale of that effort was underscored by the speed of the turnaround. From catastrophic collision damage to a fully reconfigured and tested race machine in the span of just a few weeks, the Black Foils’ return – alongside Los Gallos – is one of the most extraordinary recovery stories in SailGP history.
The successful repairs to the Spanish and Kiwi boats means all 13 teams will be on the water for next weekend’s Hauraki Gulf showdown.
