New Zealand SailGP Team
New Zealand SailGP Team
Career
Established	2020
Nation	New Zealand
Team principal(s)	F50 League LLC
CEO	Peter Burling, Blair Tuke
Skipper	Peter Burling
Yachts
Sail no.	Boat name
	Amokura

The New Zealand SailGP Team is a New Zealand Sailing team lead by Peter Burling and Blair Tuke which participates in SailGP. ^{[1] [2]} The team is also known as the Black Foils. ^{[3] [4]}

History

New Zealand SailGP Team was established in 2020 by sailors Peter Burling and Blair Tuke. ^[3]

Boat Name (Amokura)

On the 21st of 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 Connectio nto the ocean is important to the team as it demponstrates 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. ^[5]

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’. ^[6]

Wing Collapse

On the 8th of September 2023 after sailing on day 1 of racing in Saint-TropezNew Zealand's 29m wing collapsed. Fortunatly 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'. ^{[7] [8] [9]} 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 and 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.” ^[10]

SailGP was unable to transport and fit the replacment 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.” ^[11]

Investigation into the cause of the collapse found that "the mast went drastically out of alignment." - Russell Coutts ^[12]

Black Foils

On the 12th of March 2024 the New Zealand SailGP Team announced the new moniker: "Black Foils". ^{[3] [4]} 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.” ^[3] 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.” ^[3]

Team

Current Crew: ^[1]

•   Peter Burling ( NZL) - Co-CEO & Skipper
•   Blair Tuke ( NZL) - Co-CEO & Wing Trimmer
•   Jo Aleh ( NZL) - Strategist
•  Erica Dawson ( NZL) - Strategist
•  Marcus Hansen ( NZL) - Grinder
•   Josh Junior ( NZL) - Grinder
•  Liv Mackay ( NZL) - Strategist
•   Andy Maloney ( NZL) - Flight Controller
•  Louis Sinclair ( NZL) - Grinder

Past Crew:

•  Arnaud Psarofaghis ( SUI) - Skipper for Plymouth in season 2 when 5 athletes where representing New Zealand at the Olympic Games. ^{[13] [14]}
•   Jason Saunders ( NZL) - Wing Trimmer for Plymouth in season 2 ^[14]
•  James Wierzbowski ( AUS) - Flight Controller for Plymouth in season 2 ^[14]
•  Marcus Hansen ( NZL) - Gridner for Plymouth in season 2 ^[14]
•   Nathan Outteridge ( AUS) - Skipper Sydney Season 4 replaced Peter Burling due to parental leave. ^[15]

Season 2

The New Zealand SailGP Team first raced in season 2 where they placed 5th. ^[16]

Location	Event Result	Race 1	Race 2	Race 3	Race 4	Race 5	Final
Bermuda [17]	5th	6th	8th	8th	4th	5th	-
Taranto [18]	4th	3rd	8th	5th	1st	7th	-
Plymouth [19]	7th	6th	6th	4th	2nd	8th	-
Arhus [20]	5th	3rd	6th	2nd	8th	3rd	-
Saint Tropez [21]	4th	4th	3rd	3rd	2nd	8th	-
Andalucia-Cadiz [22]	5th	5th	6th	6th	1st	6th	-
Sydney [23]	5th	5th	8th	5th	2nd	3rd	-
San Fancisco [24]	5th	3rd	5th	8th	1st	3rd	-
Season Result [16]	5th

Season 3

Season 3 was very sucessfull for the team. Multiple top placings where achived throuout the season. A close battle with the Australia SailGP Team in the final in San Francisco narrowly losing by 6 seconds. ^[25]

Location	Event Result	Race 1	Race 2	Race 3	Race 4	Race 5	Race 6	Final
Bermuda [26]	6th	7th	3rd	8th	1st	7th	-	-
Chicargo [27]	4th	1st	5th	4th	5th	8th	-	-
Plymouth [28]	1st	2nd	2nd	1st	5th	1st	-	1st
Copenhagen [29]	1st	1st	1st	1st	-	-	-	1st
Saint Tropez [30]	2nd	1st	4th	1st	2nd	-	-	2nd
Andalucia-Cadiz [31]	6th	1st	6th	5th	8th	7th	-	-
Dubai [32]	4th	4th	2nd	7th	1st	6th	5th	-
Singapore [33]	1st	1st	5th	2nd	3rd	-	-	1st
Sydney [34]	6th	9th	3rd	4th	-	-	-	-
Christchurch [35]	2nd	2nd	1st	2nd	2nd	3rd	-	2nd
San Francisco [36]	6th	4th	7th	3rd	6th	7th	-	2nd
Season Result [37]	2nd

Season 4

Season 4 has been more successful even with setbacks from the wing collapse in Saint Tropez which stoped the team from sailing in taranto. ^[38]

Location	Event Result	Race 1	Race 2	Race 3	Race 4	Race 5	Final
Chicargo [39]	1st	4th	2nd	2nd	3rd	6th	1st
Los Angeles [40]	7th	4th	5th	10th	7th	6th	-
Saint Tropez [41]	8th	1st	6th	5th	10th	10th	-
Taranto [42]	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Andalucia-Cadiz [43]	4th	4th	5th	8th	2nd	5th	-
Dubai [44]	1st	6th	2nd	4th	2nd	4th	1st
Abu Dhabi [45]	1st	1st	10th	2nd	6th	6th	1st
Sydney [46]	3rd	3rd	5th	1st	2nd	7th	3rd
Christchurch [47]	1st	1st	4th	2nd	-	-	1st
Bermuda
Halifax
New York
San Francisco
Season Result [48]

References

External links

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