“For us we still don’t really agree with the call, but you’ve got to live by what the umpires say. So, yeah, tough break in that regard. But I think also we’re really hoping the league can learn from the incident in terms of how we can keep the boats apart, how all the teams are operating with one another and we’re really hoping there’s some good change in that regard.”
The crash left SailGP and the Black Foils sweating whether or not the Kiwi team would be able to compete in their home event, with the fleet returning to the Waitematā Harbour on the weekend of February 14-15.
However, after the damage was assessed, there was plenty of confidence about their chances – with the SailGP Technologies team pulling 24-hour shifts to get the parts needed to fix the boat ready and airfreighted to Auckland, where the final reconstruction of the vessel is now being carried out.
“We’ve always been very confident we’d be on the water here,” Burling said.
“I mean, SailGP Technologies and the tech team as a whole have done an amazing job keeping all the boats in one piece and back together. So, yeah, that confidence is growing as well.
“It’s cool to see it all happening. I mean, obviously there’s some complications around getting the physical parts to New Zealand in time, so that part’s all gone well. So, I’m sure the team will do an awesome job finishing it off now.”
All going well, the regatta will be the first in SailGP history to feature all 13 teams on the starting line, after Spain missed the entirety of the Perth event due to damage sustained by their boat during practice sessions earlier in the week.
The fleet are expected to get just one day of practice racing in Auckland, scheduled for Friday, before the main event. This year’s regatta is the last of an initial four-year agreement from SailGP to host events in New Zealand. However, there is confidence a fresh agreement will be reached, with Auckland and the league in advanced discussions.
“While we are unable to share specific details at this stage, we are committed to securing a longer‑term agreement that keeps SailGP in Auckland,” said Annie Dundas, Tātaki Auckland Unlimited director – destination.
“SailGP is a showcase event on the Auckland calendar thanks to its prime central‑city location and natural waterfront amphitheatre, which delivers exceptional experiences for fans, teams and broadcasters alike.”
Christopher Reive joined the Herald sports team in 2017, bringing the same versatility to his coverage as he does to his sports viewing habits.
