Black Foils SailGP Team, formerly New Zealand SailGP Team, is a New Zealand professional sailing team which competes in the global Rolex SailGP championship. Established in 2020 for the second season of SailGP, the team is led by co-CEOs; driver Peter Burling, and wing trimmer Blair Tuke.
History Boat name (Amokura) On 21 April 2021, the New Zealand SailGP Team launched their boat Amokura. Adorning the New Zealand SailGP Team's F50 is a blue fern as a proud symbol of Aotearoa's identity. The distinctive blue colour scheme demonstrates the team's connection to Tangaroa (guardian of the ocean) and a window through to the ocean the team races on and for. The Connection to the ocean is important to the team as it demonstrates the kaupapa the team has with Live Ocean, its official Race For the Future charity partner. Burling said: “Not only does the F50 look awesome but it also highlights our pride in representing Aotearoa and is a powerful way to take the important message of ocean restoration and protection to the world.” The team named its F50 'Amokura', the Māori name for a Red-tailed tropicbird. The name was gifted to the New Zealand SailGP Team by waka expert and navigator Hoturoa Barclay-Kerr who has been involved alongside Live Ocean with the new team's journey in preparation to represent New Zealand for the first time in the SailGP league.
Lightning damages wing In January 2023, after sailing in Singapore while being towed back to the Tech Site the New Zealand boat was struck by lightning. Lightning was spotted near the spectator race village, which was promptly evacuated, before hitting the top of the New Zealand F50 mast. The kiwi team were ashore at the time of the strike picking up their trophy. In their place, Switzerland driver Sébastien Schneiter, France strategist Manon Audinet and Denmark grinders Luke Payne and Martin Kirketerp were on board. Kirketerp, who was touching a shroud at the time, sustained an electric shock and was immediately evacuated for medical assistance. Schneiter, Audinet and Payne, who were not injured, were evacuated from the F50 and did not return until after the storm had passed. Schneiter, who was driving the F50, said: “The whole boat shut off, the wing exploded at the top and we all felt a little shock – unfortunately Martin had a bigger one.” Martin Kirketerp was transferred onto the New Zealand chase boat and taken to hospital. He underwent tests, which all came back clear, and was discharged from hospital after a night under observation. The New Zealand boat suffered a 'lot of damage', according to Tech Team director Brad Marsh, with ‘all electrical systems going down’.
Wing collapse On 8 September 2023, after sailing on day 1 of racing in Saint-Tropez New Zealand's 29m wing collapsed. Fortunately all athletes were accounted for and no injuries were reported. Damage assessments were done overnight and the tech team reported the damage to be too significant for the team to continue racing. SailGP's spare wing was located in New Zealand and therefore the team was unable to continue racing. Speaking about the incident after racing, New Zealand driver Peter Burling said he heard 'an almighty bang' before the wing 'unraveled'. Burling said the incident happened as the F50 ‘touched down’ into the water – a maneuver the team had executed ’30–40 times today’. "We were just cruising by to say hi to a few friends at the end of the day and we just heard an almighty bang and watched it all unravel," Burling said "It just happened so quickly – we just saw the mast and sail coming down – there was nothing we could have done." Burling disagreed that the 29m wing was out of range in the wind conditions. "We’ve sailed the big wing in a little more breeze than that," he said. "For us, we felt that we were in range and sailing it pretty normally – but obviously the results are quite different from normal."
SailGP was unable to transport and fit the replacement wingsail and so New Zealand was unable to compete at Taranto. New Zealand driver and team co-CEO Peter Burling said: "It’s incredibly disappointing to be unable to race in next weekend’s event for our team, fans, partners, friends and family." Wing trimmer and co-CEO Blair Tuke said, “We’re working closely with the league to chart a path forward from here. That includes reviewing the rules for redress and compensatory points to ensure this forced non participation does not further hinder our results this season.” Tuke said, "As a group, we’re really proud of how we’ve been sailing, and how we bounced back on day one in Saint-Tropez after a difficult event in Los Angeles. It’s incredibly disappointing to not be able to build on that momentum, but we’ve faced adversity before and we will come back stronger in Cádiz, and for the rest of the season."
Investigation into the cause of the collapse found that "the mast went drastically out of alignment", according to league director Russell Coutts. Peter Burling said, "With a conventional sail, if the wind comes from the other side, it’ll flap. The wing, well it doesn’t flap, it’s rigid, though it actually creates a huge amount of pressure the other way and it buckled out to windward." "I think we have a really good understanding of exactly why the incident occurred now, but it definitely gives you a few more nerves knowing it’s had that incident before."
Black Foils
On 12 March 2024, the New Zealand SailGP Team announced the new moniker: "Black Foils". This name is in-line with other New Zealand Sports teams. Team New Zealand wing trimmer and co-CEO Blair Tuke said: "Black Foils embodies the relentless pursuit of excellence that defines our team. New Zealand sport has a longstanding affinity with the colour black, it symbolises strength, courage, passion and resilience – values that are all integral to our team and what we stand for.” New Zealand Driver and co-CEO Peter Burling added: "The Black Foils represent the spirit of New Zealand. We’re a nation of pioneers, achievers, and ocean lovers. The foils are what allow us to fly above the water at speeds of up to 100km/hr – they represent innovation and progression in our sport.”
Team
Current crew Source: – co-CEO & skipper – co-CEO & wing trimmer – flight controller (since 2024) – strategist – grinder – grinder – strategist/spare sailor – spare sailor – coach (since 2024) – former grinder (2021–2024), assistant coach (since 2024)
Past crew – flight controller (2021–2024) – skipper for Plymouth in Season 2 when 5 athletes where representing New Zealand at the Olympic Games. – Strategist – wing trimmer for Plymouth in Season 2 – flight controller for Plymouth in Season 2 – skipper for Sydney in Season 4, replaced Peter Burling due to parental leave. – coach (2021–2024)
Results
Season 2
The New Zealand SailGP Team first raced in season 2 where they placed 5th. +LocationEventResult Race1Race2Race3Race4Race5Final Bermuda5th6th8th8th4th5th – Taranto4th3rd8th5th1st7th – Plymouth7th6th6th4th2nd8th – Arhus5th3rd6th2nd8th3rd – Saint Tropez4th4th3rd3rd2nd8th – Cádiz5th5th6th6th1st6th – Sydney5th5th8th5th2nd3rd – San Francisco5th3rd5th8th1st3rd –Season Result5thCitations:
Season 3
season 3 was very successful for the team. Multiple top placings where achieved throughout the season. A close battle with the Australia SailGP Team in the final in San Francisco narrowly losing by 6 seconds. LocationEventResult Race1Race2Race3Race4Race5Race6Final Bermuda6th7th3rd8th1st7th – – Chicago4th1st5th4th5th8th – – Plymouth1st2nd2nd1st5th1st –1st Copenhagen1st1st1st1st – – –1st Saint Tropez2nd1st4th1st2nd – –2nd Cádiz6th1st6th5th8th7th – – Dubai4th4th2nd7th1st6th5th – Singapore1st1st5th2nd3rd – –1st Sydney6th9th3rd4th – – – – Christchurch2nd2nd1st2nd2nd3rd –2nd San Francisco6th4th7th3rd6th7th – –Season Result2ndCitations:
Season 4
Season 4 was more successful even with setbacks from the wing collapse in Saint Tropez which stopped the team from sailing in Taranto, Italy.
LocationEventResult Race1Race2Race3Race4Race5Final Chicago1st4th2nd2nd3rd6th1st Los Angeles7th4th5th10th7th6th – Saint-Tropez8th1st6th5thDNSDNS – Taranto - – – – – – – Cádiz4th4th5th8th2nd5th – Dubai1st6th2nd4th2nd4th1st Abu Dhabi1st1st10th2nd6th6th1st Sydney3rd3rd5th1st2nd7th3rd Christchurch1st1st4th2nd – –1st Bermuda2nd3rd4th4th6th1st2nd Halifax5th5th2nd4th5th5th – New York City1st5th3rd4th2nd –1st San Francisco4th4th4th4th3rd7th –Season Result3rdCitations:
Season Awards At the end of season 4 New Zealand driver Peter Burling was crowned driver of the season in SailGP's end of season, fan-voted awards. The awards also saw fellow New Zealand strategist Liv Mackay named strategist of the Season. With New Zealand coach Ray Davies receiving coach of the season.
Season 5
Season 5 saw transfer of flight controller Andy Maloney to Mubadala Brazil SailGP Team, Leo Takahashi joined the team in his place.
LocationEventResult Race1Race2Race3Race4Race5Race6Race7Final Dubai1st2nd3rd 5th1st 7th – –1st Auckland 4th 4th 8th 6th1st 4th 6th2nd – Sydney8th8th7th11th11th2nd1st5th – Los Angeles2nd1st1st9th2nd8th2nd4th2nd San Francisco5th4th8th6th3rd8th3rd1st – New York City2nd2nd11th1st4th2nd4th – 2nd Portsmouth1st2nd4th1st11th1st5th1st1st Sassnitz4th5th4th10th1st9th5th5th – Saint-Tropez2nd5th1st3rd5th – – – – Geneva8th1st5th11th5th10th – – – Cádiz2nd11th2nd6th3rd2nd3rd8th2nd Abu Dhabi9th7th5th11th6th8th8thSeason Result3rdCitations:
Impact league Season 2 New Zealand accumulated the most points during the inaugural season of Impact League, they won the Impact League Trophy as well as $100,000 for their purpose partner Live Ocean's work on marine conservation. The team's main focus was The Race to Save the Endangered Antipodean Albatross, ensuring protection of seabirds migrating over international waters. Their efforts resulted in a Memorandum of Understanding being signed between the governments of New Zealand and Spain.
Season 3 New Zealand's highlights throughout the season included its Moanamana Project in collaboration with Live Ocean, which saw $50K distributed to climate-resilient kelp research in Whakarāupo Lyttelton. The team finished in second place, accumulating only five points less than the winners, Rockwool Denmark.
Season 4
Black Foils continued to work with their purpose partner Live Ocean in Season 4. They finished the season in 5th place.
Season 5
Black Foils continue to work with their purpose partner Live Ocean in Season 5.
See also F50 (catamaran) New Zealand national team nomenclature based on the "All Blacks" Yacht racing Team New Zealand
References
External links