SailGP is being held in Lyttelton across Saturday and Sunday. Photo: Felix Diemer for SailGP / Handout image supplied by SailGP
The first day of the SailGP racing event in Lyttelton has been abandoned after a dolphin was sighted on the course.
The race was due to get under way about 3pm, but was delayed after the dolphin was spotted.
After it had not moved on about two hours later, the race was called off entirely.
SailGP managing director Andy Thompson described it as "a tough day" for both the sailors and the fans.
"The athletes were ready to go and the conditions were epic and we were looking forward to some really fast racing.
"The conditions are looking really top end for tomorrow so hopefully the F50s will be out there ripping around and we can send the fans home super happy."
Concerns about Hector's dolphins had been raised prior to the event.
Two dolphins had been spotted in the area, within 300 metres of the boats, during the final race in 2023.
But despite being told to stop racing, the event director allowed it to go ahead.
That led to an independent decision-maker being appointed for this year's event. They sit in the control room and are tasked with halting racing if any dolphins are seen.
Organisers have acknowledged that boat strikes are likely to be fatal to dolphins.
Their mammal management plan stipulates that racing does not resume until at least 20 minutes have passed since a dolphin was last seen within the race zone.
There are only about 15,000 Hector's dolphins that are older than a year, according to the Department of Conservation. They are listed as nationally vulnerable.
Hector's dolphins are endangered. Photo: Supplied
A record-breaking crowd of 11,000 visitors was predicted for each day of the weekend's racing.
Fans have been venting frustration about the cancellation on SailGP's social media channels.
"I would be very disappointed if I had paid money to go on a boat and no racing. Or flown in from somewhere. A bit over the top I reckon," one said.
"So entertaining to watch boats sit on the water, how is there no plan B," another said.
A third labelled the event "Snooze GP".
"Should we also cancel the Sydney to Hobart [yacht race] if any dolphins are spotted?"
Official statement on the cancellation of racing today in Christchurch
— SailGP (@SailGP) March 23, 2024
More details https://t.co/wqkad2YASi pic.twitter.com/RrB0Qe5vts
Grace Uivel from Ata Ceramics earlier said SailGP had been a "wonderful" event for the town.
She said there had been a buzz around town. "It's a beautiful day and we've had a lot of really friendly visitors."
SailGP's chief executive Russell Coutts earlier said the event would not return to Christchurch next year, as "minority interests" had made things too difficult.
But Uivel said both the Lyttelton community and SailGP had done really well, working with local hapū Ngāti Wheke and the Department of Conservation.
"We love the boats and we love the efforts of all the groups to formulate a plan that can work for SailGP, for the community and for the taonga - the Hector's dolphins - and it's disappointing that they don't want to keep doing that work.
"Because really, at the end of the day, the minority group would be the people who want to see these dolphins harmed.
"I think we are on the same team here and it's disappointing that we can't make it work."
Coastal advocate Genevieve Robinson, who is also a regional councillor, earlier said she did not believe the race should go ahead at all at this time of year.
It was still within the prime calving season for Hector's dolphins, she said.
"They're very vulnerable at this stage, they are still in need of their mothers, they are often still suckling.
"The accumulated effects of human-based activity, such as fishing, on the population as well as this, it's just a little bit too much."
A total of 17 Hector's dolphins had died in the South Island since September, according to Department of Conservation data.
Of that number, 10 were as a result of being caught by a commercial fishing trawler.
