Please select your home edition
Edition
X-Yachts Leaderboard 2024 2

NZSailGP Team have a steep hill to climb to make the Final in Los Angeles

by Natalie Fortier NZSailGP 23 Jul 2023 03:43 PDT 23 July 2023
New Zealand SailGP Team alongside the rest of the fleet in action during a practice session ahead of the Oracle Los Angeles Sail Grand Prix- July 2023 © Ricardo Pinto/SailGP

New Zealand sits seventh on the event leaderboard after a fourth, fifth and tenth-place finish on Day 1 of the Oracle Los Angeles Sail Grand Prix.

The Kiwis were “blown away” by a controversial penalty which forced them to drop from second to fifth in the second fleet race of the day.

In Race 1, New Zealand’s fighting style saw the team claw their way back from last at Mark 1, sailing well throughout the congestion to earn a solid fourth-place finish behind Australia in first, Emirates Great Britain in second and Denmark in third.

In Race 2, New Zealand worked their way to second before a penalty for not giving room at the mark to the USA. Driver Peter Burling said: “Personally I’m blown away by how we got a penalty in that situation.”

“I spoke to Jimmy [Spithill] who our penalty was against and he didn’t even know it was on us. I think the umpires need to have a little look at themselves after that and how they can make better decisions going forward.”

Strategically, New Zealand navigated downwind to get behind the USA while also putting themselves back on the windier side of the course, but it wasn’t enough to make up significant lost ground. Denmark, who executed flawlessly from start to finish, won race two ahead of Australia in second and Spain in third.

“In Race 3, the breeze dropped right off,” said Burling “We probably took a bit too much risk trying to get foiling on that first reach and ended up off the back of the pack.” Briefly able to get up and foiling, Emirates Great Britain surged ahead of the pack to finish first minutes before Spain in second and Canada in third.

“It’s a tough one for us but we’ll learn from it and come out ready to get a couple of good races on the board tomorrow,” said Burling.

With all to play for on Day 2, Burling said: “Hopefully the fog can clear tomorrow so the breeze can come in and we can get some more good racing in. We’re right up for the challenge.”

“It’s an awesome race course here. It’s so cool having the top marks so close to the fans on shore. It would definitely be pretty tight if we got 20kts, but with conditions like we had in those first two races today it was absolutely perfect.”

The most exciting race on water is back tomorrow at 11am Monday 24 July NZST, with live racing Sunday and Monday, only on ThreeNow. Fans can catch delayed coverage on Three Now - Sport (linear) at 4.30pm.

Related Articles

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
SailGP: Black Foils excited ahead of Final
The Black Foils kept out of trouble on a gusty Day 1 of SailGP on San Francisco Bay The Black Foils kept out of trouble on a gusty day one of SailGP on San Francisco Bay where Sunday they're set to race the hotly anticipated Season 4 Grand Final. Posted on 14 Jul 2024
SailGP: City by the Bay just over a week away
The most important race of Sail Grand Prix Season 4 is little more than a week away The most important race of Sail Grand Prix Season 4 is little more than a week away and the Black Foils are coming in hot off the back of their win in New York City. Posted on 4 Jul 2024
SailGP: Black Foils win in New York
The Black Foils have taken the big prize in the Big Apple with a win at Mubadala Sail Grand Prix The Black Foils have taken the big prize in the Big Apple with a win at Mubadala Sail Grand Prix New York to claim their 5th event victory of Season 4. Posted on 23 Jun 2024
SailGP: Black Foils survive a demanding Day 1
The Blacks Foils came through a demanding opening day at Mubadala SailGP New York to be third on the The Blacks Foils came through a demanding opening day at Mubadala SailGP New York to be third on the leaderboard after two fleet races on the Hudson River today in front of a sell-out crowd on Governors Island. Posted on 23 Jun 2024
Black Foils head for New York this weekend
The Black Foils go up against their SailGP rivals again this coming weekend on New York harbour The Black Foils go up against their SailGP rivals again this coming weekend on New York harbour in front of a stacked race stadium on Governors Island and the iconic big apple backdrop for the Mubadala New York Sail Grand Prix | New York, 22-23 Jun EDT Posted on 16 Jun 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
Armstrong 728x90 - MA Foil Range - BOTTOMDoyle_SailWorld_728X90px-05 BOTTOMSea Sure 2025