{"id":285490,"date":"2026-02-15T16:10:40","date_gmt":"2026-02-15T16:10:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/285490\/"},"modified":"2026-02-15T16:10:40","modified_gmt":"2026-02-15T16:10:40","slug":"starboard-foil-sensor-fault-disrupts-rockwool-racing-campaign-in-auckland","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/285490\/","title":{"rendered":"Starboard foil sensor fault disrupts ROCKWOOL Racing campaign in Auckland"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>A malfunction in the starboard daggerboard sensor system significantly impacted the performance of the ROCKWOOL Racing SailGP Team during the ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix, highlighting the technical precision required to compete at the highest level of SailGP racing.<\/p>\n<p>SailGP\u2019s F50 catamarans are among the most data-driven race yachts in the world. Each boat is equipped with over 125 sensors processing more than 35,000 data points per second. These inputs feed into real-time flight control systems, race management analytics and performance modelling powered by Oracle Cloud Infrastructure.<\/p>\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-168895 lazyload\" alt=\"ROCKWOOL Racing SailGP Team helmed by Nicolai Sehested in action on Race Day 1 of the ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix in Auckland, New Zealand. Saturday 14 February 2026. Rolex SailGP Championship Event 2 2026 Season. \/\/ Photo credit: James Gourley for SailGP. \" width=\"696\" height=\"457\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/JG2_1004-1024x673.jpg\"  data- data-eio-rwidth=\"1024\" data-eio-rheight=\"673\"\/>ROCKWOOL Racing SailGP Team helmed by Nicolai Sehested in action on Race Day 1 of the ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix in Auckland, New Zealand. Saturday 14 February 2026. Rolex SailGP Championship Event 2 2026 Season. \/\/ Photo credit: James Gourley for SailGP.<\/p>\n<p>The starboard board sensor forms a critical part of that system. Positioned on the right-hand foil, it measures structural load, angle of attack and immersion depth. This data informs the flight controller\u2019s management of lift, heel and pitch balance while the boat travels at speeds exceeding 90 km\/h. The sensor also plays a key role in maintaining structural safety margins under high load.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Advertisement, article continues below &#8211;<a data-no-instant=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rivieraaustralia.com\/models\/4300-sports-express\/?utm_source=BoatingNZ_300x250&amp;utm_medium=display&amp;utm_campaign=4300SE_1-15Feb26\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" class=\"a2t-link\" aria-label=\"Riviera-SMY-Range-300\u00d7250-1\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"250\" style=\"display: inline-block; max-width: 100%; height: auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Riviera-SMY-Range-300x250-1.gif\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazyload\" data-eio-rwidth=\"300\" data-eio-rheight=\"250\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>During the first race on Sunday\u2019s split fleet session, the Danish team identified irregular readings from the starboard board sensor. Without reliable data input, confidence in foil load management and flight stability is reduced. In gusts approaching 28 knots across Auckland\u2019s Waitemat\u0101 Harbour, this forced a conservative race mode.<\/p>\n<p>Driver Nicolai Sehested confirmed the issue post-racing.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-168915 lazyload\" alt=\"Nicolai Sehested, driver of ROCKWOOL Racing SailGP Team, speaks during a pre-event press conference ahead of the ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix in Auckland, New Zealand. Friday 13 February 2026. Rolex SailGP Championship Event 2 2026 Season. \/\/ Photo credit: Andrew Baker for SailGP. \" width=\"696\" height=\"470\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/AB107662-1-1024x691.jpg\"  data- data-eio-rwidth=\"1024\" data-eio-rheight=\"691\"\/>Nicolai Sehested, driver of ROCKWOOL Racing SailGP Team, speaks during a pre-event press conference ahead of the ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix in Auckland, New Zealand. Friday 13 February 2026. Rolex SailGP Championship Event 2 2026 Season. \/\/ Photo credit: Andrew Baker for SailGP.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe had a problem with the starboard board sensor in the first race,\u201d Sehested said. \u201cAt this level, the boat depends on precision. Without full confidence in the data, you manage risk rather than push performance.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The team finished sixth in the opening race. Shore crew worked intensively between heats to diagnose and rectify the fault. However, the issue could not be fully resolved before the second start. The team competed but finished last, scoring no points.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s really frustrating and bad luck,\u201d said Sehested. \u201cWe didn\u2019t get to finish a race today, which has obviously left us behind where we feel we deserve to be, based on our performance.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Advertisement, article continues below &#8211;<a data-no-instant=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/purekraftboats.co.nz\/rova-amphibious\/\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" class=\"a2t-link\" aria-label=\"Purekraft Web Banner (728\u00d790)\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"319\" style=\"display: inline-block; max-width: 100%; height: auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Purekraft-Web-Banner-728x90-1.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazyload\" data-eio-rwidth=\"2560\" data-eio-rheight=\"319\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>He adds: \u201cThe tech team and our shore team do an amazing job to keep these boats running, but they are also really complex machines, so there are no fingers pointed here \u2013 it\u2019s just racing.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-168876 lazyload\" alt=\"ROCKWOOL Racing SailGP Team helmed by Nicolai Sehested leads the United States SailGP Team helmed by Taylor Canfield, NORTHSTAR SailGP Team helmed by Giles Scott, Black Foils SailGP Team helmed by Peter Burling, DS Automobiles SailGP Team France helmed by Quentin Delapierre, Emirates Great Britain SailGP Team helmed by Dylan Fletcher and Artemis SailGP Team helmed by Nathan Outteridge whilst in action on Race Day 1 of the ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix in Auckland, New Zealand. Saturday 14 February 2026. Rolex SailGP Championship Event 2 2026 Season. \/\/ Photo credit: Felix Diemer for SailGP. \" width=\"696\" height=\"366\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/FD4_1552-1024x538.jpg\"  data- data-eio-rwidth=\"1024\" data-eio-rheight=\"538\"\/>ROCKWOOL Racing SailGP Team helmed by Nicolai Sehested leads the United States SailGP Team helmed by Taylor Canfield, NORTHSTAR SailGP Team helmed by Giles Scott, Black Foils SailGP Team helmed by Peter Burling, DS Automobiles SailGP Team France helmed by Quentin Delapierre, Emirates Great Britain SailGP Team helmed by Dylan Fletcher and Artemis SailGP Team helmed by Nathan Outteridge whilst in action on Race Day 1 of the ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix in Auckland, New Zealand. Saturday 14 February 2026. Rolex SailGP Championship Event 2 2026 Season. \/\/ Photo credit: Felix Diemer for SailGP.<\/p>\n<p>Saturday had delivered a sixth and seventh before racing was abandoned following the collision that sidelined New Zealand and France.<\/p>\n<p>The Auckland result leaves ROCKWOOL Racing eighth in the overall championship standings after two events. The fleet now turns to Sydney, where the Danish team will focus on restoring full sensor integrity and returning to uncompromised race performance.<\/p>\n<p>Learn more: <a href=\"https:\/\/sailgp.com\/news\/26\/equipment-failure-stalls-rockwool-racing-dramatic-weekend-auckland\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">https:\/\/sailgp.com\/news\/26\/equipment-failure-stalls-rockwool-racing-dramatic-weekend-auckland\/<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"A malfunction in the starboard daggerboard sensor system significantly impacted the performance of the ROCKWOOL Racing SailGP Team&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":285491,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[157578,157579,158952,111,43,139,69,158953,32850,158954,158955],"class_list":{"0":"post-285490","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-new-zealand","8":"tag-2026-sailgp","9":"tag-2026-sailgp-auckland","10":"tag-2026-sailgp-auckland-rockwool-denmark-technology-issues","11":"tag-new-zealand","12":"tag-news","13":"tag-newzealand","14":"tag-nz","15":"tag-rockwool-denmark","16":"tag-sailgp","17":"tag-stories-of-the-month-for-march-2026","18":"tag-technology-issue"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/285490","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=285490"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/285490\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/285491"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=285490"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=285490"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=285490"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}