Daily Sailing Debrief - February 14, 2026

Feb 14

Grand Prix: Drama in Auckland

Catastrophic Collision Halts Auckland Sail Grand Prix The opening day of the ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix was brought to an abrupt halt following a massive collision between the home-team Black Foils and DS Team France. While racing at roughly 90 km/h, the Kiwi F50 appeared to lose control of its rudder, spinning directly into the path of the French boat. Two sailors, including Kiwi grinder Louis Sinclair (who suffered compound fractures to both legs), were hospitalized. Racing for the day was abandoned as technical teams worked to salvage the entangled yachts. Full Story at SailGP
Doug DeVos Acquires ROCKWOOL Racing in $60M Landmark Deal American Magic co-founder Doug DeVos has officially acquired the Danish ROCKWOOL Racing SailGP team. The move is seen as a major step in building a long-term U.S. sailing legacy, integrating the Danish team’s high-performance data into the American Magic ecosystem while maintaining the Danish crew for the 2026 season. Full Story at Sail-World

Rolex Yachtsman & Yachtswoman of the Year Announced US Sailing has officially named Paul Cayard and Laura Grondin as the winners of the 2025 Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year awards. Cayard was recognized for his extraordinary win at the Star World Championship (his second title, 37 years after his first), while Grondin made history as the first female helm to win the J/70 World Championship. Full Story at US Sailing

SAISA Top 6 Opens Spring Campaign in Charleston The 2026 spring collegiate season begins in earnest this weekend with the SAISA Top 6 Invite hosted by the College of Charleston. The regatta features a three-division fleet race on Saturday followed by team racing on Sunday, serving as a critical early-season measuring stick for top-ranked programs like USF, NC State, and Jacksonville. Full Story at GoUSFBulls

Ultim Gitana 18 Launched at Lorient The sailing world caught its first glimpse of the highly anticipated Gitana 18 as it was launched at Lorient La Base. The 32-meter foiling trimaran is expected to push the boundaries of offshore speed in the Ultim class, with initial sea trials scheduled for late February. Full Story at Sail-World
Canados Heritage 67 Catamaran Introduced The Italian shipyard Canados has revealed its latest "power-sailer" crossover for the American market. The Heritage 67 is a 20-meter catamaran capable of a staggering 37-knot top speed, blending high-performance hull design with the luxury volume of a wide-beam multihull. Full Story at YachtBuyer

Melges 24 Midwinters Launch in St. Petersburg The Helly Hansen Sailing World Regatta Series returns to Tampa Bay this weekend (Feb 13–15) for the Melges 24 Midwinter Championship. A fleet of 20 teams, dominated by top Corinthian talent, will battle for early-season ranking points in the North American Sailing Series. Full Story at Sail-World
Wallypower50X Debuts at Miami Boat Show Wally Yachts has unveiled the wallypower50X at the Miami International Boat Show. Featuring quad 500hp Mercury outboards, the 15-meter "sports-yacht" is designed to act as the ultimate high-speed tender or day-cruiser for the 2026 season. Full Story at SuperYacht Times