On Friday, a dramatic event unfolded as five members of the U.S. sailing team were thrown overboard when their boat capsized during the third fleet race of a practice day at the Apex Group Bermuda Sail Grand Prix. The boat flipped due to an inversion of the top wing, causing chaos on the water.
A video captured the harrowing moment as the U.S. sailing team members were launched overboard as the boat experienced turbulence and ultimately capsized. Fortunately, no serious injuries were reported, and one crewmember managed to stay in his seat throughout the ordeal.
An investigation later revealed that Wing trimmer Victor Diaz de Leon had mistakenly pressed the wrong button on the control panel, causing the wing to invert and leading to the boat flipping. Diaz de Leon expressed relief that all his teammates were safe after the scary incident.
Although the sailors escaped unscathed, their F50 sailing vessel was not as lucky, suffering significant damage that knocked it out of the official competition in Bermuda. The team will have to regroup and repair their boat before they can get back on the water.
