The threat of afternoon thunderstorms on Sunday has seen SailGP make changes to their weekend schedule on the eve of their return to the Waitematā Harbour.
While racing will go ahead as planned on Saturday with a start time of 4pm, Sunday’s action will now begin at 11.30am.
The decision by organisers was made following consultation with Auckland Council Events and event stakeholders, with athlete safety and competitive integrity as priorities.
In a statement, SailGP acknowledged the adjustment may impact plans and appreciated the understanding and flexibility of fans, partners and the wider Auckland community.
A practice racing session scheduled for Friday afternoon was also cancelled due to the weather.
“Welcome to New Zealand; rain and windy weather,” Red Bull Italy’s Kiwi driver Phil Robertson quipped at the event press conference on Friday morning when asked about the practice session being cancelled.
“It’s not ideal. I think every team sitting here and in the sheds right now would want to be out on the water. You’ve got a long list of things you want to train. I think we get about 14 training days a year and that’s one of them down.
“It’s a little bit frustrating, but it is what it is.”
The Black Foils were out to recommission their repaired boat on Friday afternoon. Photo / Jason Ludlow / SailGP
It’s not the first time wild weather has forced SailGP to be flexible with their schedule. Another example came in France last year, where the threat of thunderstorms saw the league cancel its second day of racing in Saint-Tropez. The Black Foils’ F50 was also struck by lightning after racing in Singapore in early 2023.
The move comes as New Zealand’s Black Foils look to get their season back on track, after coming away with no points from the campaign opener in Perth last month.
The New Zealanders were in a collision with the Swiss team early in the first race of the weekend, which caused major damage to their F50 foiling catamaran.
The Swiss were able to get back on the water for the second day of racing in Perth, however the Black Foils were left with a nervous wait to see whether they would be back in time for their home regatta.
The team had made it clear they were confident they would be in action in Auckland, however with work needing to be done in the UK and then air freighted to New Zealand to have the rest of the rebuild completed, it was a matter of things needing to go to schedule.
On Friday, they were able to get their boat, Amokura, back on the water for commissioning to ensure it was ready to go for Saturday.
The team also had New Zealand cricket star Kane Williamson join them on board the boat on Friday afternoon.
Kane Williamson on board with the Black Foils. Photo / James Gourley, SailGP
Season four champions Spain were also afforded time on the water on Friday afternoon to recommission their F50, after they were also forced out of the Perth regatta due to damage.
Updated Sunday timings
Race Stadium opens: 9.00am.
Adrenaline Lounge opens: 10.00am.
Racing begins: 11.30am.
Event concludes: approximately 2.30pm.
Christopher Reive joined the Herald sports team in 2017, bringing the same versatility to his coverage as he does to his sports viewing habits.
