Please select your home edition
Edition
sMRT AIS Man Overboard Beacons AUS / NZ

NZSailGP Team is back in action at the Rockwool Denmark Sail Grand Prix Copenhagen

by Natalie Fortier NZSailGP 20 Aug 2022 00:19 AEST 19-20 August 2022
New Zealand SailGP Team in action alongside Switzerland SailGP Team during a practice session ahead of the Rockwool Denmark Sail Grand Prix in Copenhagen, Denmark © Bob Martin/SailGP

The New Zealand SailGP Team is back in action in Copenhagen for Event 4 of Season 3 of SailGP, and the team has a new target on its back after a dominant performance in Plymouth on and off the water.

The Kiwis enter this weekend's Rockwool Denmark Sail Grand Prix as the first team to win the racing while also topping the Impact League leaderboard at a single event, and Driver Peter Buring says the crew is stoked.

"We're super excited to be the first team to win the double," he says. "Taking both the Impact League and the grand prix in Plymouth is a huge milestone and something we've aspired to since joining SailGP."

After winning three of six races in Plymouth, this morning's pre-event press conference saw a new interest in New Zealand's performance, with rival teams digging deeper into the data to see how they could copy the Kiwis this weekend.

Maintaining there was no silver bullet, Burling said, "We didn't do anything out of the ordinary. We just did everything well and that's what we're going to try to do again this weekend."

But reigning SailGP champions Australia weren't convinced. Knocked from a five-event winning streak by their trans-Tasman rivals, Australian Driver Tom Slignsby says his crew "knew New Zealand was lurking," making strides forward at every event.

"Contrary to what Pete says, it looks like they did change their set-up a little [in Plymouth]. They were definitely sailing quite high and the look of the boat was different. We look at that and try to figure out if that's better than the way we're sailing and how we can make improvements," Slingsby said.

This weekend's action unfolds over two days on the strait between Denmark and Sweden, with live racing on Friday and Saturday 19-20 August CEST / Saturday - Sunday 20-21 August NZT. The event marks the second in the European leg of the championship, with three back-to-back grand prix taking place in Copenhagen (19-20 Aug), St Tropez (10-11 Sep) and Cadiz (24-25 Sep) over the next two months.

Burling says it's great to see momentum is building behind the team heading into such a busy leg of the season.

"We've got amazing support back at home and we love seeing fans get behind the team, particularly as we head into our home event in Christchurch next year. Tickets go on sale in a little over six weeks time and it's going to be amazing to bring SailGP to New Zealand."

Practice Racing was held on Thuyrsday with three races sailed in 15-17kts and the F50's hitting speeds close to 45kts

In the Practice Race 1 USA and Switzerland crossed the finish line, first and second respectively, but overlapped. So it was a good result for both teams for different reasons. NZSailGP sat out the race with gear issues but joined for the remaining two races

In Practice Race 2 the Kiwis pulled off a magnificent well timed start to win the race by a big margin, facilitated by sailing in clear air for the race. With Australia in second, and Denmark 3rd. The Nathan Outteridge helmed Swiss team were third at the final mark but dropped to fifth with a couple of extra maneuvers on the final run. USA could not repeat their performance in Practice Race 1 and finished 8th and last.

In Practice Race 3 Canada snatched the win on the last sprint to the finish, after a riunding snafu by Australia. The two had been in the front pack for most of the race, with the serious racing taking place behind them. USA and Switzerland were both pinged for what looked to be boundary penalties. Denmark were third, with USA 4th and New Zealand 5th.



SailGP Season 3 Schedule:

2022

  • May 14-15 Bermuda Sail Grand Prix presented by Hamilton Princess
  • June 18-19 T-Mobile United States Sail Grand Prix | Chicago at Navy Pier
  • July 30-31 Great Britain Sail Grand Prix | Plymouth
  • Aug 19-20 ROCKWOOL Denmark Sail Grand Prix | Copenhagen
  • Sep 10-11 France Sail Grand Prix | Saint-Tropez
  • Sep 24-25 Spain Sail Grand Prix | Andalucía - Cádiz
  • Nov 12-13 Dubai Sail Grand Prix presented by P&O Marinas

2023

  • Jan 14-15 Singapore Sail Grand Prix
  • Feb 18-19 KPMG Australia Sail Grand Prix | Sydney
  • Mar 18-19 New Zealand Sail Grand Prix | Christchurch
  • May 6-7 United States Sail Grand Prix | San Francisco (season final)

SailGP is the world's most exciting racing on water. The global championship features national teams battling in short, intense races at iconic stadium-style venues across the globe. The high-tech, high-speed action features sailing's best athletes racing in identical hydrofoiling F50 catamarans, flying at speeds approaching 100 km/h. SailGP also races for a better future, championing a world powered by nature. Visit SailGP.com for more information.

The New Zealand Sail Grand Prix will be hosted in the vibrant city of Otautahi, Christchurch. Racing takes place in the spectacular Whakaraupo, Lyttelton Harbour 18-19 March 2023, on the side of an ancient volcano under the guardianship of Te Hapu o Ngati Wheke Rapaki. The 10th event on the Season 3 calendar, the New Zealand Sail Grand Prix is the last event before the Season Grand Finale in San Francisco.

Tickets go on sale for 4 October 2022 at 9AM sharp.

Find out more and register for pre-sale access at www.sailgp.com/newzealand

Related Articles

“Foil4TheGulf” sets Southern Hemisphere record
With over 200 entrants the Black Foils and Live Ocean's event “Foil4TheGulf” raises awareness With over 200 entrants the Black Foils and Live Ocean's event “Foil4TheGulf” to raise awareness for the Hauraki Gulf / Tikapa Moana Marine Protection Bill has become New Zealand's largest ever foiling event by entries. Posted on 24 May
SailGP: Kiwis bounce back on Day 2
The BlackFoils had a much stronger performance on the Final day of KPMG Australia SailGP Despite finishing 8th on the overall standings in the Sydney regatta, the New Zealand team are in third equal place on the Season points table - level with Spain - both are on 20pts. Posted on 9 Feb
SailGP: Burling unpicks the Kiwi performance
Peter Burling has unpicked the team's mixed racing performance at home in Auckland New Zealand driver Peter Burling has unpicked the team's mixed racing performance at home in Auckland, which saw the team finish 4th in front of home crowds. Posted on 21 Jan
SailGP: Kiwis 'gutted' by Finals loss
'We really wanted to come away positive here, it definitely hurts' - Peter Burling New Zealand's Black Foils, the Season 4 champions finished third in the 2024 SailGP Grand Final on Sunday, in San Francisco. Instead it was Spain, the third and final qualifer, who took their first SailGP title. Posted on 15 Jul 2024
Black Foils extend their SailGP Season 4 lead
Despite finishing 5th at the Rockwool Canada Sail Grand Prix The Black Foils extended their overall lead in Season 4 despite finishing 5th at the Rockwool Canada Sail Grand Prix after what was a hectic final day of racing in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Posted on 3 Jun 2024
SailGP: Kiwis have a target on their backs
Rival Aussie driver Tom Slingsby conceded New Zealand were “the top team at the moment” New Zealand enters the weekend top of the overall standings, ten points ahead of Australia. Speaking at this morning's pre-event press conference, rival Aussie driver Tom Slingsby conceded New Zealand were “the top team at the moment”. Posted on 1 Jun 2024
SailGP: Kiwis push back at Media Conference
Burling disagrees that the Kiwis were gifted the season lead by an Australian snafu in Christchurch New Zealand driver Peter Burling has disagreed that the Kiwis were gifted the season lead by Australia's Christchurch penalty, arguing ‘we have earned our right to be here'. Posted on 4 May 2024
NZ SailGP team adopt new identity
Kiwis SailGP team have adopted a new identity symbiotic with other top NZ sport teams The New Zealand SailGP Team its announced its new identity - Black Foils. The name reflects the style adopted by leading New Zealand teams including the All Blacks (Rugby), Black Sticks (Hockey),and Black Caps (Cricket). Posted on 11 Mar 2024
SailGP: Outteridge to take over Kiwi helm
SailGP veteran Nathan Outteridge helm New Zealand's F50 ‘Amokura' this weekend SailGP veteran Nathan Outteridge will step behind the wheel of New Zealand's F50 ‘Amokura' this weekend in Sydney, with driver and co-CEO Peter Burling at home for the birth of his first child. Posted on 18 Feb 2024
SailGP: Kiwis snatch win Dubai
New Zealand won SailGP Dubai in an extremely close finish on the Persian Gulf New Zealand has claimed victory on the Persian Gulf, at SailGP Dubai, after the closest three-boat final of the season. New Zealand has jumped from sixth to third in the season standings. Posted on 11 Dec 2023
Barton Marine Pipe GlandsJeanneau Sun Odyssey 350B&G Zeus SR AUS