The high-speed, high-stakes SailGP season has exploded into chaotic life before a single official race has been sailed, with Australia's flagship team facing a major setback for its home opener in Fremantle.
Injury and Damage Strike Fleet
The Australian "Flying Roos" team could be without its star recruit, wing trimmer Iain Jensen, for the weekend's action after he suffered a knee injury during a practice session off Bathers Bay on Thursday. The Olympic gold medallist underwent scans at Royal Perth Hospital, forcing the team to call in veteran replacement Glenn Ashby, 48, for Friday's practice races.
The carnage promised for the Fremantle event has materialised dramatically. Spain's Los Gallos team, led by driver Diego Botin, has been forced to withdraw entirely after a rogue wave whipped up by the famous Fremantle Doctor caused major damage to its hull, foils, and daggerboard. This reduces the fleet to 12 starters for the sold-out Perth regatta.
Further illustrating the brutal conditions, Sweden's Artemis crew member Chris Draper – a former Australian team wing trimmer in 2025 – required a mouth full of stitches after a heavy fall on his boat's trampoline following an impact with a large wave.
Australian Hopes Hang in the Balance
The potential loss of Jensen is a severe blow to the Australian campaign. SailGP co-founder Sir Russell Coutts stated that if Jensen is sidelined, the home team might have to settle for a podium spot rather than victory. "As good as Glenn Ashby is, he's not any spring chicken anymore. I don't think it'd be realistic for them to go out and win with Glenn trimming the wing," Coutts told The West Australian.
Flying Roos skipper Tom Slingsby, who co-owns the team with Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman, consulted with Jensen on Friday morning. Team grinder and West Australian Kinley Fowler explained the injury occurred late in practice during a gybe. The team is preparing Ashby to step in, with a decision on Jensen's participation expected before racing begins.
Jensen, who helped Great Britain defeat Australia in last season's final, was set to make his first appearance for his country post-Olympics at this event. His potential absence reshapes the competitive landscape.
Fremantle Doctor Dictates Terms
The challenging conditions are set to be the defining factor of the weekend. The powerful southwesterly breeze, known locally as the Fremantle Doctor, is expected to play a major role in deciding the winner of the first event in the 13-stop, $19 million Rolex SailGP calendar.
Coutts emphasised that composure would be key. "It's going to take a lot of maturity in terms of how they manage that balance between pushing and just throttling back a little bit at times," he said, rating the Australians and French highly but noting the Kiwis face a test of their flight control in the big breeze.
With 15,000 fans set to pack the grandstands and VIP areas to watch the F50 catamarans reach speeds over 100km/h, the stage is set for a dramatic and unpredictable weekend of sailing. Racing is scheduled from 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM on both Saturday and Sunday.
