The damaged New Zealand SailGP Team F50 catamaran after racing of the France Sail Grand Prix in Saint-Tropez, 2023. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The New Zealand SailGP team will make it to the start line in Spain this weekend...but only just.
The team has spent the last month recovering from the catastrophic failure of it's mast in France.
More technically the wing sail on the foiling catamaran imploded and crashed onto the boat and into the water off Saint-Tropez.
Since recovering from that moment the team has been focussing on getting the boat back on the water.
Peter Burling's crew was unable to compete in the following round in Italy, but with the help of the competition's technical team, they're set to race at Cadiz.
The freak storm in Sydney and the lightning strike in Singapore earlier this year left the series organisers short on spare parts and a complete new wing sail had to be freighted from New Zealand to Spain.
Because of the high specification of the F50 catamarans the refitting of the wing sail isn't as straight forward as bolting in a new mast.
Electrical controls, sensors and hydraulic systems all have to be incorporated into the repair.
One of the final aspects of the fix only happened midweek with the application of a new clysar plastic film that skins the wing frames.
Since then branding, flap assembly, calibration and load testing have taken place.
Co-CEO and wing trimmer Blair Tuke admits it was a traumatic moment for the crew and staff.
However he says they've managed to move on and refocus.
"This whole incident has been a pretty big speed bump for us," he told RNZ.
"As a team we've debriefed what was a really scary incident, supported each other through it and we've tried to make sure we're as well prepared as we can be for Cadiz and getting our season back on track.
"Structural failures are very scary because obviously you don't see them coming and it happened incredibly fast, but we have a great group that has supported each other through it."
Blair Tuke, co-CEO and wing trimmer of New Zealand SailGP Team, speaks with crew members. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Following the Saint-Tropez incident the New Zealanders were forced to miss the next round in Italy.
They were awarded fifth place points from that regatta and head into Spain this weekend fifth in the overall standings.
They've also been given an extra day of training this week as rules stipulate that teams can only have one day on the water before racing starts.
"Everyone is fully focussed on getting back out there and racing hard and that's where the teams energy and focus has been."
After finishing second overall last season the New Zealand team had focussed on going one better. However Tuke admits the breakage was a setback to their campaign especially as they were leading the fleet after the first day of racing in Saint-Tropez before the wing came down.
"We can't do anything about that now, there is a long season ahead and so as athletes we need to put a good weekend in and get our season back on track."
Australia top the standings with 35 points, Great Britain and Spain have 29, Denmark 27 and New Zealand 23.
