Watch: Brazil SailGP team’s wing collapses while training in Bermuda
The Brazilian SailGP team crew members were lucky to escape injury after a catastrophic wing failure during a training session in Bermuda on Monday.
The six-strong crew, including Brazilian driver Martine Grael and a crew of both new Brazilian team members and experienced SailGP athletes, were forced to run for cover as the wing collapsed and were lucky to avoid injury.
Grael was thankful that the crew stayed safe and is keen to resume training as soon as possible
“We had a very good training period in Bermuda, with a quick adaptation to the boat and the entire team is very pleased with the progress,” Grael said.
“A material failure involving the F50 wing interrupted training. Fortunately, everyone is fine and that’s the most important part. We’re working closely with the team to understand next steps, and look forward to getting back to full preparation as soon as possible.”
The damage to the Brazilian boat is being assessed to determine its cause of the failure but given the extent of the damage, significant impacts are expected to the remainder of SailGP’s preseason Bermuda training camp.
It is not the first time this year that a team has had issues in Bermuda with the US team forced to withdraw from the SailGP event in May after capsizing in the Great Sound the week before the race.