The Black Foils are back on the water. The team launched their new F50, Manawatītī, in Halifax Harbour today, the first step in returning to racing at this weekend’s Canada Sail Grand Prix.
The naming and blessing ceremony was led by Master Navigator Hoturoa Barclay-Kerr of Te Toki Voyaging Trust (Tainui), who also named and blessed the team’s first F50, Amokura.
Manawatītī translates to the heart of a tītī, the sooty shearwater, a seabird known for crossing vast ocean distances while remaining connected to New Zealand.
The team chose the name to reflect their resilience and collective spirit.
Co-CEO Blair Tuke said the day represented the work of many people across a long period. “To have Hotu give the name to the F50 and deliver the blessing provided a special connection to home and where we have come from as a team. Seeing Manawatītī go into the water for the first time marked a massive step forward for the group since the incident in Auckland.”
Co-CEO Peter Burling said work remains before Saturday but the day mattered. “It was special to be back sailing as the Black Foils and to take Manawatītī out for the first time. It was also great to give Stewart his first chance to be on board with the team.”
Manawatītī was built at SailGP Technologies in Southampton, with Black Foils shore crew working alongside the build team before the boat transferred to Halifax. The team has sailing and commissioning time scheduled Thursday before Friday’s practice racing with the SailGP fleet.
