Peter Burling led the New Zealand Black Foils to a triumphant win at SailGP’s season-opening event in Dubai on Sunday, successfully overcoming a British crew once again, similar to his recent victory in the America’s Cup just a month prior.
Burling executed a bold maneuver by tightly squeezing his 50-foot foiling catamaran past Emirates Great Britain and their new helm, Dylan Fletcher, as they passed through the fourth gate. This strategic move was approved by the umpires, allowing the Black Foils to leap ahead and secure victory. Meanwhile, the United States team, captained by Taylor Canfield, took third place with their catamaran now featuring a color reminiscent of the Statue of Liberty.
In an unexpected turn of events, Tom Slingsby of Australia, who had been the leader on opening day, failed to make it to the podium race. The Australian team had a rocky start during the final fleet race, struggling to navigate through their competitors in the light winds aboard the Flying Roo. They ultimately finished in 10th place out of the 11 participating crews.
Burling previously skippered Emirates Team New Zealand to a decisive 7-2 victory over INEOS Britannia in the 37th America’s Cup held in Barcelona in October. Fletcher, who had co-helmed the British boat alongside Sir Ben Ainslie, now takes on the leadership role within the British SailGP team.
The SailGP team saw significant crew changes due to free agency. Notably, the Kiwis included new flight controller Leo Takahashi, after experienced sailor Andy Maloney moved to the newly established Brazilian team. Burling praised his team’s performance, stating, “Awesome play from the group. As a new team to get to the final this week, it’s one of the hardest things in this light air. We really pulled it out and got a great start, hitting it right at mark one.”
The race featured numerous lead changes before the Kiwis ultimately seized control, achieving their second consecutive season-opening victory and a hat trick of wins in the UAE.
Fletcher, making his debut as the British skipper following Giles Scott’s signing with Canada, expressed pride in his team’s performance. “It was great to make it into the final, and we gave it everything we had. At one point, we thought we had done enough to beat the Kiwis, but they capitalized on some pressure and surged ahead. I’m incredibly grateful for the team supporting me around the course and making my job easier,” he remarked.
Canfield attempted to slip inside Fletcher as they rounded the final mark prior to the short sprint to the finish line but was penalized, resulting in a finish behind the British team.
The Americans celebrated the return of flight controller Hans Henken, who had suffered severe injuries and lost consciousness during a race in September 2023 when their catamaran crashed. Henken and skipper Ian Barrows won an Olympic bronze medal in the 49er class last August, and Canfield shared excitement over their podium finish. “Any event where you make it onto the podium is incredible, and it’s thrilling to see our hard work paying off. Everyone on the team put in immense effort and found ways to improve, showcasing our determination and fighting spirit — we’re really excited,” he said.
Looking ahead, the next regatta is scheduled for January 17-18 in Auckland, where the Black Foils will aim to secure victory on their home turf for another consecutive season.