Kiwis, Aussies spar on and off water in France SailGP drama – ABC17NEWS

By BERNIE WILSON
AP Sports Writer

New Zealand skipper Peter Burling threw an aggressive high-speed maneuver at Tom Slingsby of Australia en route to a dominating opening day at the France Sail GP in St. Tropez. That led to some heated words between the trans-Tasman Sea rivals who are fighting for the season points lead. Burling’s move during a drag race to the finish line of the first race at 90 km/h (56 mph)  caused the Australians’ 50-foot catamaran to fall off its foils and dig its bows into the waves. The Kiwis sped on to victory and Aussies dropped from first to fifth.