Hundreds evacuated as dangerous weather halts Sail Grand Prix in Sydney

About 300 people have been evacuated in Sydney after dangerous weather hit the SailGP, lifting a catamaran into the air and bringing the event to a standstill.

SailGP said in a statement that the weather had caused "significant damage" to at least one of the boats in competition.

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In this photo provided by SailGP teams compete on Sydney Harbour during race 1 of the Australia Sail Grand Prix in Sydney, Australia, Saturday Feb. 18, 2023. (Simon Bruty for SailGP via AP)

"As far as we know, no-one was seriously injured during the incident," SailGP said in a statement.

It's understood several people sustained minor injuries and several temporary structures on site were damaged by the storms.

Footage on social media shows the Canadian SailGP catamaran falling victim to ferocious winds in Barangaroo.

https://twitter.com/9NewsAUS/status/1626900047240773633?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

After being whisked into the air, the boat was ripped apart and crashed into a tent, sending people running.

There was also damage to infrastructure at Barangaroo Wharf.

Safework NSW has been advised.

Fire and Rescue NSW said they were in attendance with four fire trucks on Barton St "to a temporary building that has been damaged by the weather".

"Evacuations taking place with numerous minor injuries," they said on social media.

https://twitter.com/FRNSW/status/1626861275677626368?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

The second day of the event has been cancelled.

SailGP indicated the scale of the damage could be bad enough for future international events to be postponed.

New Zealand is the next event on the calendar, with the competition scheduled there for March 18-19.

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