SailGP has been called out by Greenpeace’s executive director in New Zealand/Aotearoa over its response to a race cancellation prompted by the presence of dolphins on the racecourse.
Racing was postponed on Saturday 23 March at the second annual New Zealand Sail Grand Prix in Christchurch, leading to a so-called ‘Super Sunday’ where Australia’s SailGP team suffered a massive collision that forced their retirement.
Following the event, SailGP co-founder Sir Russell Coutts had harsh words for what he described as an “extreme marine mammal management plan forced upon us”.
But Greenpeace’s chief in New Zealand wasn’t having any of that.
In an opinion piece for the NZ Herald, Dr Russel Norman characterised Sir Russell’s comments as “a Trumpian outburst”, emphasising that SailGP was fully aware of the Lyttelton Harbour venue’s status as a protected area for endangered Upokohue/Hector’s dolphins.
“So much for all the greenwash that SailGP cares about the environment,” Dr Norman says.
The NZ Herald has more HERE.
