Black Foils driver Peter Burling is no stranger to the Auckland harbour.
It’s a stretch of water he’s spent hundreds of hours on throughout his decorated sailing career and one hopes to use to his advantage when the New Zealand SailGP Team looks for their second consecutive season five
“I’ve definitely sailed on this harbour a whole heap of times...It’s pretty cool to be doing that again,” Burling told the Herald.
SailGP’s second leg of the season heads to Tāmaki Makaurau for the first time after the past two New Zealand events were hosted in Christchurch. The 2024 edition made headlines after the opening day of racing was called off due to a dolphin sighting on the course, but was ultimately won by the Kiwi crew.
After winning in Dubai in November, the Black Foils will look to go two-from-two on a stretch near Wynard Point and the Auckland Harbour Bridge as SailGP organisers try to balance racing with an optimal spectating experience.
“It’s going to be a super fun little racecourse in here,” Burling said.
“It looks like the weekend’s going to be blowing from the exact opposite direction to what it’s been blowing for the last month so that’s going to be interesting [but] hopefully we can put on an awesome show.”
From this weekend, the F50 fleet will race on its new high-speed titanium T-foils, replacing the L-shaped ones they have been using since SailGP began in 2019.
They are set to make the boats fly out of the water quicker with their thinner sections that lower the drag at high speeds.
Burling feels the new foils could even the playing field this weekend, given the area where they’ll race is so close to shore.
“There’s not many Kiwis that have spent a whole heap of time racing up here, especially in fast boats,” Burling said.
“It’s a little bit of anyone’s game [but] definitely, we’re here to try and win it.
Australian Tom Slingsby, who led his team to three SailGP championships, reckons despite the new foils, the Kiwis' remain the hot favourites for the Auckland regatta; reminded by his own success at home.
“It’s anyone’s game, but there is for sure a level of comfort,” Slingsby told the Herald.
“We’ve won more events on Sydney Harbor than we have anywhere else by a long way, and that’s because we’re just comfortable there.
“We know the conditions, we feel at home and even though it’s not a sport you think of crowds, it really does spur you on and a home crowd advantage does make a difference.”
Meanwhile, Brazilian sailor, Martine Grael told the Herald that the home advantage is something her team will try and latch on to after signing Team New Zealand America’s Cup star and former Black Foils flight controller Andy Maloney this season.
“He’s a Kiwi, so fans here will relate to him,” Grael said.
“It’s funny coming here to New Zealand and we got him on our team and it’s just such a key asset for our team and we’re making sure to show him that.
“He’s very up to what he’s been called for and he’s just making himself very valuable to the team.”
Bonnie Jansen is a multimedia journalist in the NZME sports team. She’s a football commentator and co-host of the Football Fever podcast, and was part of the Te Rito cadetship scheme before becoming a fulltime journalist.