A New boat from the ground up
The absence follows the collision between the Kiwi F50 Amokura and DS Automobiles Team France during February’s ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix in Auckland. The damage was bad enough that SailGP Technologies will hand the Black Foils an entirely new boat — one that still needs to be built in Southampton, shipped to wherever the team rejoins the season, and commissioned before the racing starts.
The salvageable parts of Amokura have already gone toward repairing the French boat, which lines up in Rio this weekend. What’s left of the Kiwi F50 is on its way to Southampton.
When do the Black Foils return?
Co-CEO and driver Peter Burling knows the timeline won’t be simple.
“Missing any event is hard on the team, but there are a lot of moving parts in building a new boat and getting it to an event. We already get limited time on the water across the year, so factoring in commissioning time for a completely new boat adds another layer. SailGP Technologies do an amazing job and we know they’re doing everything they can to get us back out there.”
A firmer return date should emerge after Rio. The upcoming calendar runs through Bermuda (10–11 May), New York (31 May–1 June) and Halifax (21–22 June), before the fleet heads to Portsmouth (26–27 July) for the European leg.
Louis Sinclair’s recovery
The Auckland collision left grinder Louis Sinclair with fractures to both legs, requiring surgery on his right. He spent time recovering in Auckland Hospital before making it back to his home in Antigua, where he’s been surrounded by family. The medical team is upbeat about his chances of returning to the boat, though the timeline is still being worked through.
Co-CEO and wing trimmer Blair Tuke said watching Sinclair handle the situation had brought the team closer.
“The way Louis has dealt with this has been something else. The calm he showed straight after the incident, and the way he’s gone about his recovery since — it’s been hard not to draw strength from that. It’s pulled the group together and I think we’ll be better for it when we get back on the water.”
Preparing behind the scenes
Shore crew members will head to England later this month to work with SailGP Technologies on the new F50, while head coach Matt Steven keeps the rest of the squad sharp in the meantime.
Burling and Tuke both wanted to acknowledge those who’d reached out.
“The support from our fans and partners means a lot at the best of times. Right now it means even more.”
The team also wished DS Automobiles Team France well as they return to racing this weekend.
