New Zealand SailGP Team

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

New Zealand SailGP Team
New Zealand SailGP Team
Career
Established2020
NationNew Zealand
Team principal(s)F50 League LLC
CEOPeter Burling, Blair Tuke
SkipperPeter Burling
Yachts
Sail no.Boat name
Amokura

History

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

Boat name (Amokura)

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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.[5]

Lightning damages wing

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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

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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'.[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 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.” [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] Peter Burling said it was a result of pressure caused by the direction of the wind in relation to the wing. “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.” [13]

Black Foils

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Black Foils Logo

On 12 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

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Current crew[1]

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Past crew

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Season 2

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The New Zealand SailGP Team first raced in season 2 where they placed 5th.[17]

Location Event

Result

Race

1

Race

2

Race

3

Race

4

Race

5

Final
  Bermuda[18] 5th 6th 8th 8th 4th 5th -
  Taranto[19] 4th 3rd 8th 5th 1st 7th -
  Plymouth[20] 7th 6th 6th 4th 2nd 8th -
  Arhus[21] 5th 3rd 6th 2nd 8th 3rd -
  Saint Tropez[22] 4th 4th 3rd 3rd 2nd 8th -
  Andalucia-Cadiz[23] 5th 5th 6th 6th 1st 6th -
  Sydney[24] 5th 5th 8th 5th 2nd 3rd -
  San Fancisco[25] 5th 3rd 5th 8th 1st 3rd -
Season Result[17] 5th

Season 3

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SailGP Season 3 Grand Final - San Francisco

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.[26]

Location Event

Result

Race

1

Race

2

Race

3

Race

4

Race

5

Race

6

Final
  Bermuda[27] 6th 7th 3rd 8th 1st 7th - -
  Chicago[28] 4th 1st 5th 4th 5th 8th - -
  Plymouth[29] 1st 2nd 2nd 1st 5th 1st - 1st
  Copenhagen[30] 1st 1st 1st 1st - - - 1st
  Saint Tropez[31] 2nd 1st 4th 1st 2nd - - 2nd
  Andalucia-Cadiz[32] 6th 1st 6th 5th 8th 7th - -
  Dubai[33] 4th 4th 2nd 7th 1st 6th 5th -
  Singapore[34] 1st 1st 5th 2nd 3rd - - 1st
  Sydney[35] 6th 9th 3rd 4th - - - -
  Christchurch[36] 2nd 2nd 1st 2nd 2nd 3rd - 2nd
  San Francisco[37] 6th 4th 7th 3rd 6th 7th - 2nd
Season Result[38] 2nd

Season 4

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New Zealand F50 Sailing at SailGP Christchurch 2024

Season 4 was more successful even with setbacks from the wing collapse in Saint Tropez which stopped the team from sailing in Taranto, Italy.[39]

Season Awards

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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.[40]

Location Event

Result

Race

1

Race

2

Race

3

Race

4

Race

5

Final
  Chicago[41] 1st 4th 2nd 2nd 3rd 6th 1st
  Los Angeles[41] 7th 4th 5th 10th 7th 6th -
  Saint-Tropez[42] 8th 1st 6th 5th 10th 10th -
  Taranto[43] - - - - - - -
  Andalucia-Cadiz[44] 4th 4th 5th 8th 2nd 5th -
  Dubai[45] 1st 6th 2nd 4th 2nd 4th 1st
  Abu Dhabi[46] 1st 1st 10th 2nd 6th 6th 1st
  Sydney[47] 3rd 3rd 5th 1st 2nd 7th 3rd
  Christchurch[48] 1st 1st 4th 2nd - - 1st
  Bermuda[49] 2nd 3rd 4th 4th 6th 1st 2nd
  Halifax[50] 5th 5th 2nd 4th 5th 5th -
  New York[51] 1st 5th 3rd 4th 2nd - 1st
  San Francisco[52] 4th 5th 4th 4th 3rd 7th -
Season Result[53] 3rd

References

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  1. ^ a b "New Zealand SailGP Team News, Features, Exclusives, Athletes, Stats". SailGP. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
  2. ^ "Burling and Tuke to lead NZ SailGP Team | Yachting New Zealand". www.yachtingnz.org.nz. 7 August 2020. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Introducing the 'Black Foils', the New Zealand SailGP Team". SailGP. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
  4. ^ a b "NZ SailGP Team reveal change to operation". NZ Herald. 7 April 2024. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
  5. ^ "STRONG WINDS DELAY FIRST OUTING IN NEW ZEALAND SAILGP TEAM F50". SailGP. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  6. ^ "Damage assessment underway after New Zealand F50 struck by lightning in Singapore; injured athlete cleared". SailGP. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
  7. ^ "'An almighty bang' - New Zealand's Saint-Tropez future uncertain after catastrophic wing incident". SailGP. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
  8. ^ "CONFIRMED: New Zealand out of Saint-Tropez racing due to F50 wing collapse". SailGP. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  9. ^ "New Zealand SailGP team suffer 'incredibly scary' wing collapse in France". www.stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
  10. ^ "Burling reacts to New Zealand F50 wing disaster". SailGP. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
  11. ^ "CONFIRMED: New Zealand SailGP Team will not race in Taranto". SailGP. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
  12. ^ "Russell Report: Coutts on New Zealand wing damage; reveals race to ship new wing to Taranto". SailGP. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
  13. ^ "What caused NZ SailGP team's dramatic wing collapse". NZ Herald. 27 May 2024. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
  14. ^ "POSITIVE SIGNS FOR NEW ZEALAND SAILGP TEAM DESPITE DISAPPOINTING RESULT". SailGP. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  15. ^ a b c d "New Zealand SailGP Team primed for Plymouth". SailGP. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  16. ^ "Nathan Outteridge to drive for New Zealand in Sydney; Peter Burling on parental leave". SailGP. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  17. ^ a b "SailGP Season 2 - Results, Rankings, Leaderboards". SailGP. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  18. ^ "SailGP Results | Bermuda Sail Grand Prix Rankings, Leaderboards". SailGP. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  19. ^ "SailGP Results | Italy Sail Grand Prix | Taranto Rankings, Leaderboards". SailGP. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  20. ^ "SailGP Results | Great Britain Sail Grand Prix | Plymouth Rankings, Leaderboards". SailGP. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  21. ^ "SailGP Results | ROCKWOOL Denmark Sail Grand Prix | Aarhus Rankings, Leaderboards". SailGP. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  22. ^ "SailGP Results | France Sail Grand Prix | Saint-Tropez Rankings, Leaderboards". SailGP. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  23. ^ "SailGP Results | Spain Sail Grand Prix | Andalucía - Cádiz Rankings, Leaderboards". SailGP. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  24. ^ "SailGP Results | Australia Sail Grand Prix | Sydney Rankings, Leaderboards". SailGP. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  25. ^ "SailGP Results - United States Sail Grand Prix: San Francisco Rankings, Leaderboards". SailGP. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  26. ^ "New Zealand edged in SailGP final". RNZ. 8 May 2023. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
  27. ^ "SailGP Results - Bermuda Sail Grand Prix Rankings, Leaderboards". SailGP. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  28. ^ "SailGP Results - United States Sail Grand Prix: Chicago Rankings, Leaderboards". SailGP. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  29. ^ "SailGP Results - Great Britain Sail Grand Prix: Plymouth Rankings, Leaderboards". SailGP. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  30. ^ "SailGP Results - Denmark Sail Grand Prix: Copenhagen Rankings, Leaderboards". SailGP. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  31. ^ "SailGP Results - France Sail Grand Prix: Saint-Tropez Rankings, Leaderboards". SailGP. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  32. ^ "SailGP Results - Spain Sail Grand Prix: Andalucia - Cadiz". SailGP. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  33. ^ "SailGP Results - Dubai Sail Grand Prix". SailGP. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  34. ^ "SailGP Results - Singapore Sail Grand Prix". SailGP. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  35. ^ "SailGP Results - Australia Sail Grand Prix: Sydney Rankings, Leaderboards". SailGP. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  36. ^ "SailGP Results - ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix: Christchurch Rankings, Leaderboards". SailGP. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  37. ^ "SailGP Results - Mubadala SailGP Season 3 Grand Final | San Francisco Rankings, Leaderboards". SailGP. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  38. ^ "SailGP Season 3 - Results, Rankings, Leaderboards". SailGP. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  39. ^ ""New Zealand's absence in Taranto opened the door to lower tier teams"". SailGP. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  40. ^ "New Zealand driver Peter Burling crowned driver of the season in fan-voted awards". SailGP. Retrieved 13 October 2024.
  41. ^ a b "SailGP Results - United States Sail Grand Prix: Chicago Rankings, Leaderboards". SailGP. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  42. ^ "SailGP Results - France Sail Grand Prix | Saint-Tropez Rankings, Leaderboards". SailGP. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  43. ^ "SailGP Results - ROCKWOOL Italy Sail Grand Prix | Taranto Rankings, Leaderboards". SailGP. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  44. ^ "SailGP Results - Spain Sail Grand Prix | Andalucía - Cádiz Rankings, Leaderboards". SailGP. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  45. ^ "SailGP Results - Dubai Sail Grand Prix - Rankings, Leaderboards". SailGP. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  46. ^ "SailGP Results - Abu Dhabi Sail Grand Prix - Rankings, Leaderboards". SailGP. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  47. ^ "SailGP Results - Australia Sail Grand Prix: Sydney - Rankings, Leaderboards". SailGP. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  48. ^ "SailGP Results - New Zealand Sail Grand Prix: Christchurch - Rankings, Leaderboards". SailGP. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  49. ^ "SailGP Results - Bermuda Sail Grand Prix - Rankings, Leaderboards". SailGP. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
  50. ^ "SailGP Results - Canada Sail Grand Prix: Halifax - Rankings, Leaderboards". SailGP. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  51. ^ "SailGP Results - New York Sail Grand Prix - Rankings, Leaderboards". SailGP. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
  52. ^ "SailGP Results - SailGP Season 4 Grand Final: San Francisco - Rankings, Leaderboards". SailGP. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
  53. ^ "SailGP Season 4 - Results, Rankings, Leaderboards". SailGP. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
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