The Rolex SailGP Championship has reached a major milestone, with all 13 national teams now privately owned following the acquisition of the Black Foils SailGP Team by MSP Sports Capital.
The investment marks an exciting new chapter for the Black Foils, who return to racing this weekend at the Canada Sail Grand Prix | Halifax after months away from competition following their February collision with France.
Led by Olympic champions and co-CEOs Peter Burling and Blair Tuke, the Black Foils become the latest team to attract significant outside investment as SailGP continues its rapid global growth.
MSP Sports Capital, a global sports investment firm founded by veteran investor-operators Jahm Najafi and Jeff Moorad, adds the New Zealand SailGP Team to a portfolio that includes or has included McLaren Racing, Everton FC and the X Games League.
The acquisition is also a landmark moment for SailGP itself. Founded in 2019 by Oracle founder Larry Ellison and SailGP CEO Sir Russell Coutts, the league was built around a centrally owned model with the long-term vision of transitioning to independent team ownership. With the Black Foils sale now complete, all 13 SailGP teams are privately owned and operated.
SailGP Co-Founder and CEO Sir Russell Coutts said, “This is a very significant milestone for SailGP – and one we set out to reach from the very beginning. The goal of SailGP has always been to build something that world-class investors and sports operators would want to own – to have MSP Sports Capital, led by Jahm Najafi and Jeff Moorad, join our ownership group is further validation of that vision.”
For fans, the deal represents another sign of SailGP’s growing status on the global sporting stage. Recent team investments have included Quantum Pacific’s purchase of the Spain SailGP Team, Doug DeVos’ acquisition of ROCKWOOL Racing, and the Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds-backed ownership group behind the BONDS Flying Roos.
Najafi said: “SailGP is one of the fastest-growing sports leagues in the world, and we are thrilled to partner with Russell Coutts and the SailGP organization. We believe the New Zealand team is one of its flagship franchises.”
Moorad added: “Our vision is straight-forward: win championships, represent New Zealand at the highest level, and build on the country’s unmatched sailing culture. Peter and Blair are the best in the world at what they do – and we’re delighted to partner with them in this next chapter.”
Burling and Tuke will remain at the helm of the Black Foils as co-CEOs while continuing to lead one of the most successful teams in international sailing. With three Olympic medals and multiple America’s Cup victories between them, the duo have helped establish the Black Foils as one of SailGP’s most recognisable teams, backed by a passionate fanbase and New Zealand’s rich sailing heritage.
Celebrating the announcement, Burling said: “Today’s an incredibly important milestone for the Black Foils – and the start of an exciting new chapter for us in SailGP as we represent New Zealand on the world stage. MSP are world-class partners, with an understanding of elite sport and what it takes to build something that lasts.”
The timing adds another layer of excitement ahead of this weekend’s return to action in Halifax at the Canada Sail Grand Prix, where the Black Foils will rejoin the F50 fleet and begin the next chapter of their SailGP story.
