Daily Sailing Debrief - February 15, 2026

Feb 15

SailGP: High-Speed Drama in Auckland

Australia Successfully Defends Auckland Title Amidst Chaos Tom Slingsby and the Australian "Bonds Flying Roos" claimed a hard-fought victory at the ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix, climbing to the top of the Season 6 leaderboard. However, the event was overshadowed by a "catastrophic" collision on Day 1 that saw home-team New Zealand and France knocked out of the competition. Full Story at SailGP
Update on Injured Sailors: Sinclair and Audinet The collision resulted in two hospitalizations. New Zealand grinder Louis Sinclair underwent successful surgery for compound fractures in both legs. France's strategist Manon Audinet was treated for abdominal injuries after being thrown forward with enough force to break the F50’s steering wheel. Both are in stable condition. Full Story at Yachting World
DeVos’ American Magic Acquires ROCKWOOL Racing for $60M In a landmark $60 million deal, American Magic co-founder Doug DeVos has acquired the Danish ROCKWOOL Racing team. While the team will continue to represent Denmark under driver Nicolai Sehested, the move marks a strategic pivot for DeVos’ organization toward the SailGP league and its new Pensacola-based high-performance center. Full Story at American Magic

2025 Rolex Yachtspeople of the Year Announced US Sailing has named Laura Grondin and Paul Cayard as the 2025 Rolex Yachtswoman and Yachtsman of the Year. Grondin was honored for her historic win as the first female helm to claim the J/70 World Championship, while Cayard was recognized for his second Star World title—coming a remarkable 37 years after his first. Full Story at SAIL Magazine

Aquila Catamarans Debuts First Sailboat: The 50 Sail Aquila has officially entered the sailing market with the world premiere of the 50 Sail at the Miami International Boat Show. The yacht features a unique "flybridge-to-bow" staircase and offers a "whisper-quiet" Hybrid Ocean Drive™ propulsion system, catering to the growing demand for sustainable luxury cruising. Full Story at Powerboat.World
Wallywind 110: The Ultimate "Sports" Cruiser Debuting at the Miami Beach Yacht Collection, the Wallywind 110 is being hailed as the benchmark for carbon-fiber performance cruisers. Its "asymmetrical" deck layout and massive 80-square-meter cockpit are designed to bridge the gap between grand-prix racing and decadent yachting. Full Story at Gentleman's Journal

Gales and Weather Alerts Disrupt Racing in Valencia The 2026 Eurocup 29er at Valencia Youth Olympic Week was forced to cancel its final days of racing due to a severe weather alert along the Spanish coast, leaving the standings frozen from Day 2. Full Story at Yachts and Yachting
70th Finn Gold Cup: "Finntastic" Practice in Brisbane Winter arrived early in Brisbane for the practice race of the 2026 Finn Gold Cup. Hosted by the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron, the fleet of 70 elite sailors faced heavy breezes and grey skies, a fittingly tough start for the class's most prestigious world title. Full Story at MySailing