Black Foils grinder Louis Sinclair was hospitalised and being treated for compound fractures in both legs following a crash during SailGP Auckland yesterday.
The Black Foils and France crashed at high speed during the third race of the day on the Waitemāta Harbour, which caused the rest of Saturday's event to be abandoned.
DS Team France strategist Manon Audinet was also injured in the crash, with the pair quickly taken off the F50 catamarans and taken to hospital.
"Black Foils Grinder Louis Sinclair is in a stable condition in Auckland Hospital after suffering injuries to both legs during the collision with the French during racing today," the team said in a statement.
"Sinclair is receiving treatment for compound fractures to both legs, but is in a stable condition.
Moment New Zealand's Sail GP team involved in horror crash - Watch on TVNZ+
Compound fractures are when a broken bone pierces the skin.
"Thank you for all of the messages of support since the incident. Special thank you to all of the medical staff involved in the response to the crash and subsequent treatment of all the athletes involved."
DS Team France also issued an update on Audinet, stating that she was thrown forward in the collision, breaking the team’s left-side steering wheel in the process.
She was being assessed for abdominal injuries caused by the impact, the team said.
“The entire DS Automobiles SailGP Team France has Manon Audinet and Louis Sinclair in their thoughts and stands fully alongside them during this time.”
Split-fleet format for Sunday's racing
For day two of racing on Sunday, SailGP will implement a split-fleet racing format.
“The decision has been taken with stronger wind conditions forecast for Sunday – on the tight, stadium-style racetrack. Following Saturday’s on-water incident involving New Zealand and France, eleven F50s will compete on Sunday," a league statement said.
Each group would compete in two fleet races, with four fleet races all up. Points would be awarded within each group on a 5-4-3-2-1-0 scale.
The crash was New Zealand's second in as many events, with the Black Foils colliding with Switzerland at the season opener in Perth last month.
Amokura lost its stern and was unable to race again that weekend.
NZ driver Peter Burling was judged at fault for the Perth crash and became the first to incur demerit points under the newly introduced SailGP 'Super Licence' protocols.
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