Kiwi influence strong within Artemis Racing SailGP Team ahead of KPMG Sydney Sail Grand Prix
With just seven days until the KPMG Sydney Sail Grand Prix, the countdown is well and truly on. Normally, Kiwi eyes would be fixed firmly on the New Zealand Black Foils SailGP Team. But with the Black Foils sidelined, the question shifts. If you cannot back the home boat, who carries your support?
For us, that answer is straightforward.
Artemis Racing SailGP Team may race under the Swedish flag, but there is a strong New Zealand current running through the crew. Brad Farrand on jib trim. Andy Maloney on flight control. Nathan Outteridge at the helm, the AC38 skipper for Emirates Team New Zealand and a familiar figure in Kiwi high performance sailing circles. Add a sharp debut in Perth and genuine podium potential in their first season, and Artemis becomes more than just another team in the fleet.
If the Black Foils are out, this is the boat with the Kiwi heartbeat worth following into Sydney.
Artemis made an immediate impression in its debut SailGP regatta in Perth, finishing fourth overall. The result marked a composed first outing for the new team, with minimal visible overcorrection or instability typically associated with a developing F50 campaign.
Boating New Zealand caught up with Maloney and Farrand in person before the start of the ITM New Zelaand Sail Grand Prix. Both hailing from Northland originally, they represent the quintessential Kiwi well.
For those less familiar with Maloney or Farrand, here is a brief introduction to their backgrounds.
Maloney is a three time America’s Cup winner and one of SailGP’s leading flight controllers. A former Black Foils core member, he later joined Mubadala Brazil before moving to Artemis SailGP in 2026, reuniting with Nathan Outteridge for the Swedish team’s debut campaign.
A New Zealand born sailor now based in Sweden, Farrand previously raced for Red Bull Italy and built a long standing relationship with Artemis through their RC44 programme, alongside experience in The Ocean Race.
Maloney confirmed that their Grand Prix preparation began well before the Artemis boat was launched. With limited on water time available, the crew prioritised shore based systems work. They sharpened their onboard communication and locked in each crew member’s role. Manoeuvres were drilled repeatedly before racing began.
Perth underlined just how tight this SailGP fleet is. Artemis had the speed across the weekend and looked composed in traffic, but a handful of small execution slips kept them out of the final. They finished fourth overall, a strong foundation in what is arguably the most competitive high performance sailing league in the world.
At the time of our interview, the Auckland conditions were expected to present a different challenge. As has been heavily commented over the past week, the Waitematā Harbour racecourse is compact, with reduced separation between boats compared with Perth. The forecasts indicated a shifting breeze pattern rather than sustained pressure, increasing the technical workload on flight control and trim.
Looking ahead, Farrand described the venue as a “sailor’s race”, noting that success would depend on positioning and timing rather than outright survival conditions.
Both Farrand and Maloney brought detailed local knowledge of the harbour. They understood how pressure builds and shifts around North Head. They also knew how quickly the breeze can change across the course.
This season, Farrand has transitioned into the G2 role trimming the jib. In an F50, trim accuracy directly influences stability through manoeuvres and impacts overall flight performance. Farrand has supplemented on water preparation with analysis of historical SailGP data to support the shift.
In the end, Auckland delivered a mixed but instructive regatta for Artemis Racing SailGP Team.
Race 1 saw Australia’s BONDS Flying Roos, helmed by Tom Slingsby, take the win on 10 points, ahead of DS Team France and the Black Foils. Artemis, with Nathan Outteridge at the helm, crossed ninth and collected two points. Race 2 showed clear progress. The Black Foils claimed the win, Emirates GBR finished second, and France third. Artemis stepped up to fifth, banking six valuable points in a tightly packed fleet.
In the shorter format races, Artemis continued to build. They finished second behind Australia in Race 3B, earning four points, then fourth in Race 4B, adding two more. Across the fleet racing series, Artemis accumulated 14 points, placing fifth overall heading into the final. Australia topped the standings on 26 points, followed by Emirates GBR and Spain.
In the event final standings, Artemis finished fifth overall. It was not a podium, but it reinforced their competitiveness in only their debut season, particularly against a deeply experienced SailGP fleet.
The crew continues to balance SailGP competition with ongoing America’s Cup commitments. The crossover between the two programmes is viewed as complementary, with SailGP sharpening reaction speed and real time decision making, while America’s Cup development demands deeper technical evaluation.
While Artemis represents Sweden officially, the New Zealand influence within the sailing team is clear. With demonstrated pace, structured preparation, and growing cohesion, the focus now turns to execution.
Following a strong debut in Perth, a good follow-up in Auckland, the Sydney event will provide the next opportunity for Artemis Racing SailGP Team to convert early promise into podium results.
