The Black Foils led from start to finish, delivering a commanding performance on LA’s challenging course.
In an impressive showcase of sailing excellence, Peter Burling and the Black Foils, New Zealand’s SailGP Team, dominated from the outset in Race 1 at the SailGP Championship in Los Angeles today. Burling’s squad crossed the start line first and expertly maintained their lead throughout the entire race.
A flawless performance from the Black Foils.
The race began precisely at 10:09 local L.A. time, with the Black Foils first across the start line, closely followed by Canada. The Black Foils swiftly demonstrated their dominance on board their high-performance F50, carving an early and significant lead around the first mark, setting a pace that proved impossible for other teams to match.
Navigating the notoriously tight and technical LA course with precision, the Black Foils rounded the first mark just 22 seconds after the start, immediately creating a commanding lead. They steadily expanded their advantage at every subsequent mark, skillfully flying their foiling catamaran with unmatched speed and agility.
Intense battle behind New Zealand
While the Black Foils sailed clear at the front, a fierce battle for the remaining podium positions unfolded behind them. Spain, led by Diego Botin, put on an impressive performance, consistently pressuring New Zealand but ultimately unable to close the gap fully. Spain crossed the finish line in second place, just ahead of Canada, whose crew delivered a steady, disciplined performance to secure third.
Further back in the fleet, notable battles and protests marked a heated competition. Germany and Brazil each encountered penalties and boundary infringements, highlighting the intense, high-stakes nature of SailGP racing.
Final standings for Race 1
1st: New Zealand (Peter Burling)
2nd: Spain (Diego Botin)
3rd: Canada (Giles Scott)
Teams from Great Britain, Switzerland, France, Italy, USA, Australia, Germany, and Brazil followed behind, each fighting hard for valuable championship points, yet unable to match the blistering pace set by the leading trio.
Burling reflects on strong start
Reflecting on the victory, Peter Burling highlighted the team’s diligent preparation and adaptability:
“We’ve worked incredibly hard on addressing the small details since Sydney. Today was all about executing those improvements, and I’m delighted with how the team performed. The course here is incredibly tight, so precision was key. We adapted quickly and effectively, and it’s great to see our efforts paying off.”
The New Zealand team’s comprehensive preparation clearly paid dividends, as their performance demonstrated flawless teamwork, boat handling, and strategic insight.
Australia finished 10th place after a bad start with seaweed caught in their foils which slowed them down. Emirates Great Britain finished in fourth place while Spain finished in second place.
Denmark has smashed into a buoy part way through the race, causing a little excitement, and unfortunately, they have had to withdraw from the rest of today’s racing.
With three more races this today, Burling and the Black Foils will seek to maintain their strong form, aiming to climb higher in the championship rankings. For now, though, they have made a powerful statement in their first race in Los Angeles: the Kiwis are back, stronger and faster than ever.
Fans and competitors alike eagerly await the continuation of this action-packed SailGP weekend, wondering if anyone can challenge New Zealand’s impressive opening display.
Stay tuned for further updates, highlights, and race results right here at boatingnz.co.nz.
