Bad News – the 8M$ AC72 capsized this week in San Francisco Bay, leaving the boat badly damaged – Good News, no one was hurt. Said tactician Tom Slingsby (AUS) of the capsize: ‘We called for a bear-away as we were out training. The winds were blowing about 25 knots, and there was strong ebb current at the time. We started the bear-away, and as the boat accelerated it pitch-poled.

‘We didn’t know what was going to happen with the new boat. When the nose went down, the wing hit and a few guys went in the water. We were unsure if the wing would snap, so we all climbed off the boat.

‘Luckily, everyone is accounted for and no one was hurt. The wing is pretty badly damaged, and we are working to get the boat back in position to return to Pier 80.’

The crew and boat will return to the team base at Pier 80 in San Francisco and assess the situation further…

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