A Kiwi foiling legend heads offshore
Peter Burling has charted a fresh course — joining the elite French team aboard SVR-Lazartigue for the 2025 Rolex Fastnet Race. It’s the first major event for the 105-foot foiling trimaran since an extensive refit, and Burling will race alongside France’s top offshore talents.
It’s a high-profile return to long-distance offshore sailing for Burling, who last raced in the Fastnet in 2017. The Rolex Fastnet starts 26 July from Cowes, UK, rounding the iconic Irish lighthouse before finishing in Cherbourg, France. This year marks the centenary of the race and promises one of the most competitive Ultim line-ups ever.
The Peter Burling Fastnet challenge begins
SVR-Lazartigue’s skipper, 26-year-old Tom Laperche, handpicked Burling for the crew. He was encouraged by offshore legend François Gabart to look beyond France’s borders.
“We had a shortlist,” says Laperche. “The New Zealanders have long been leaders. Peter was exceptional from the start. His flight control and inshore instincts are world class.”
SVR-Lazartigue: The flying trimaran redefining offshore sailing
Laperche will also sail with Franck Cammas, one of the most successful offshore sailors in history. Cammas joins the team as both co-skipper and performance director, shaping the boat’s development and tactics.
For Burling, the decision to say yes was easy.
“I’ve always loved offshore racing — it’s what led me to The Ocean Race,” he said. “These Ultims are the pinnacle. The chance to learn and push myself with such an experienced team was something I couldn’t pass up.”
New direction, same ambition
This race marks a shift in Burling’s career. In April, he confirmed he wouldn’t re-sign with Emirates Team New Zealand for a fourth America’s Cup. Instead, he joined Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli and retained his role as helmsman of New Zealand’s SailGP team, the Black Foils.
Now, by accepting the Fastnet invitation, he’s leaning further into offshore multihull sailing — a space where few Kiwis have truly gone the distance.
The SVR-Lazartigue campaign continues later this year with the Transat Café L’Or, a two-handed transatlantic race. Burling’s Fastnet participation may open the door to more Ultim events.
New team, familiar excellence
SVR-Lazartigue is a flying beast. The 32-metre trimaran, designed by VPLP and MerConcept, holds the current Fastnet Race record (1 day, 8 hours, 38 minutes). It was recently relaunched after a full structural overhaul — a refit that included new sails, improved foils, and aerodynamic upgrades.
For Burling, that’s part of the appeal. “These boats are incredibly innovative and versatile,” he said. “It’s the sort of challenge I love — fast, technical, relentless.”
Laperche says Burling brings more than talent. “He asks the right questions. He’s curious. He fits right in with our mindset: humble, focused, always looking to go faster.”
Kiwis lead at the cutting edge
New Zealand sailors have long influenced high-performance design, from the foiling breakthroughs of the America’s Cup to Olympic class dominance. Burling’s latest move adds to that legacy.
It’s not a retirement from Cup racing — it’s an expansion. And for Kiwi fans, it’s a rare chance to see one of their own take on Europe’s toughest ocean races with some of the fastest machines ever built.
The Rolex Fastnet Race may be only the start. “This is a chance to learn and grow,” Burling said. “That’s what keeps me coming back.”
What to watch
Expect SVR-Lazartigue to be among the frontrunners when the Ultim fleet lines up off Cowes. Burling will juggle this with the SailGP Portsmouth event just one week prior, proving once again that few sailors can match his range.
Boating New Zealand will have coverage from both locations — follow along as Peter Burling tackles one of the world’s great ocean races.
