Podcast Ep. 8 - Sydney SailGP preview + Quentin Delapierre on safety

25th February 2026 2:45pm

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Sydney SailGP is almost here, but the Auckland collision casts a long shadow.

In this week's episode, the team digs into one of the most consequential weekends in SailGP's seven-year history. France skipper Quentin Delapierre joins to fill us in about what happened in Auckland and what comes next. Manon Audinet spent over a week in hospital, and the French team has brought in a psychologist to support their athletes.

Quentin’s message is clear: injuries will happen in extreme sport. The question is how the league responds. Split fleets? Halos? Stronger pods? He believes the answers will come through collaboration – and he won’t be walking away. "I will not quit the league," he says. "I'm fully into it, and I'm focused to win this championship one day. But some of the athletes have concerns, and that’s normal."

The podcast also previews Sydney's twilight racing, where shifty harbour breeze and the tactical puzzle of Shark Island await. With France and New Zealand sidelined, the championship door is open for teams who can seize the moment. Australia and Great Britain are the boats to beat on equal points at the top of the season leaderboard. But lighter winds could create opportunities nobody saw coming.

00:08:12 - Analysing the unique Sydney SailGP racetrack
00:14:12 - The evolving role of the coach's booth
00:19:15 - Can anyone catch Australia and Great Britain?
00:25:23 - Nathan Outteridge and the Artemis penalty incident
00:28:44 - Quentin Delapierre on the crash aftermath
00:37:41 - Delapierre’s verdict on safety versus speed
00:43:35 - Debating halos, pods and safety upgrades
00:49:03 - Caribbean 600 and other sailing news