Video: Collision During 6th America’s Cup Race

May 27, 2017

A collision occurred between Land Rover BAR and SoftBank Team Japan in the 6th race at the America’s Cup this afternoon [May 27], resulting in a penalty being given to the British team.

In describing the incident, Softbank Team Japan said, “With 25 seconds to go on the start clock, SoftBank Team Japan Skipper Dean Barker took advantage of a wind shift that slowed the British team and accelerated the Japanese boat to over 39 knots to gain an overlap and hook the Brits into a penalty.

“However, as Land Rover BAR Skipper Ben Ainslie attempted to stay clear, his yacht slipped on it’s foils causing the Brit’s leeward hull to violently drop down into the Japanese cockpit.

“Fortunately, no sailors were injured in the collision though both boats sustained damage.”

“Obviously it was a bit of a ‘love tap’ as Ben calls it in the start of the second race”, said SoftBank Team Japan Skipper Dean Barker making reference to the Brit’s earlier collision with Emirates Team New Zealand.

“It was a little bit of a hairy moment seeing their leeward hull landing on our boat. Both boats have damage, it hit all the guys but doesn’t seem anyone is too badly injured. The nature of the racing is it’s getting closer and harder and it’s all part of the game. Ben wasn’t intending to hit us.

The team went on to claim the win after the resulting penalty on Land Rover BAR.

americas cup click here 2

Read More About

Category: Accidents and fires, All, News, Sports, Videos

Comments (2)

Trackback URL | Comments RSS Feed

  1. JUNK YARD DOG says:

    All of The Racing Rules of Sailing are designed in one way or another to prevent collision.

    Did the approaching leeward boat have time to give sufficient notice to the windward boat to keep clear?

    Was this an unavoidable unfortunate accident as both boat sustained damage.

    The sport of sailing teaches us all we need to know about life.

  2. JUNK YARD DOG says:

    DEFINITION

    ROUND – ROBIN

    A tournament in which every contestant meets every other contestant in turn.