Form arriving at the right moment
The SailGP season reaches its deciding weekend in Abu Dhabi, and the Black Foils head in with their best run of form. After a year marked by tight races and a heavy travel load, driver Peter Burling says the group feels settled.
“It’s been a cool season for us,” he says. “There have been ups and downs, but we’re feeling good heading into the final.”
New Zealand’s strength has been staying near the front, even when conditions turned awkward. With two event wins and regular top-three finishes, Burling says the team has focused on clear communication and tidy execution.
“For us, it’s about being competitive in every condition and keeping our standards high,” he says. “If we can keep nudging things forward, we’ll be where we need to be.”
A rare chance to fine-tune
One advantage this week is simply time. The Black Foils have had fewer training days than any other team this season, often rolling straight into events with little warm-up. Abu Dhabi is different, with the boat arriving early and the crew able to get familiar with the venue.
“We finally get a couple of days on the water before racing,” Burling says. “Given the season we’ve had, that’s a bonus.”
A compact course and a new wing to master
Abu Dhabi has hosted SailGP before but never a Grand Final. The race area is tight, shallow in places, and known for light winds. Starting clean will matter more than ever.
“It’s not a big piece of water,” Burling says. “If we get off the line well and hit mark one in good shape, we can control our race from there.”
The entire fleet will also race with the new 27.5 metre wing for the first time in a final. The light-wind set-up changes the balance and feel of the boat, and every team will be learning on the fly.
“I’m keen to see how the boats respond with that wing,” he says. “It’s a new set-up, so we’ll all be adapting.”
Building a crew for the long haul
While some crews are bracing for major changes under the Athlete Transfer rules, the Black Foils have taken a steadier approach. One of the biggest steps this year has been bringing young Kiwi sailor Leo Takahashi into the line-up.
“It’s been great bringing Leo in properly this season,” Burling says. “He’s slotted in well and added plenty around the group.”
Asked whether the current line-up is likely to continue, Burling is direct: “That’s the intention.”
One final shot
This will be New Zealand’s third attempt at winning the SailGP Championship. They’ve been in the final before and know exactly what the pressure feels like. As always, the title will come down to a single, short, winner-takes-all race.
“We want to go into that final with a bit of confidence from the fleet racing,” Burling says. “From there, it’s about staying calm and sailing our race.”
When pushed for his ideal ending, Burling gives a grin: “Crossing the line just ahead of the others.”
A win would be huge for the team and the long-term programme they’re building. But Burling’s attention remains on the immediate job.
“We’ll go out prepared, do everything we can, and hopefully lift the title for the first time.”
Just get the starts right for a change