The Olympic Games being postponed by a year disrupted the schedules of athletes around the world, but there would be few affected more than a quartet of Kiwi sailors preparing to lead New Zealand's debut SailGP campaign.
The calendar was almost perfect for Blair Tuke, Peter Burling, Josh Junior and Andy Maloney. Compete at the Olympics, then roll into an America's Cup campaign with Team New Zealand before trading monohulls for catamarans in SailGP.
With the Covid-19 pandemic having its way with the world however, those plans got thrown out the window and now, as the quartet – as well as SailGP teammate Erica Dawson – head to Tokyo, the SailGP team set their sights on Plymouth for their third regatta of the season.
Burling, Tuke and Dawson all missed the second regatta of the year in Taranto, Italy, as well, and now the team will be without five of its core members for the regatta which starts tonight.
Switzerland's Arnaud Psarofaghis and Kiwi Jason Saunders have again been called upon to replace unavailable sailors as they did at the last event, while Australian James Wierzbowski also joins the team, replacing Maloney as flight controller.