Please select your home edition
Edition
Zhik 2024 December

Black Foils and Live Ocean to stage NZ's largest ever foiling event on May 24

by Black Foils Media 7 May 21:33 PDT
#Foil4TheGulf is open to all types of Foilers © Richard Gladwell - Sail-World.com/nz

The Black Foils and Live Ocean Foundation are leading the charge to organise what they hope will be New Zealand’s largest ever foiling event to help get the Hauraki Gulf / Tikapa Moana Marine Protection Bill passed into law.

“Foil4TheGulf”, set to take place next month Saturday 24 May at Auckland’s Okahu Bay, has been inspired by the Hauraki Gulf / Tikapa Moana Marine Protection Bill’s stalled progress in Parliament after its second reading in December last year.

The event, hosted at the Royal Akarana Yacht Club, will bring together foilers (beginners through to experienced), from across Tamaki Makaurau and beyond. It’s a call to action to join the Black Foils on the water for a foiling challenge and show support for the Bill. Attendees don’t have to get in the water to join in the action with options to learn more about the need to protect the Gulf and an introduction to foiling available on site.

The ambition is to garner public and political attention at the event and draw attention back to passing the important marine protection Bill. With a target of up to 200 participants there is the chance the challenge could become the largest foiling event ever in the Southern Hemisphere.

Black Foils Co-CEO and Live Ocean Founder Blair Tuke hoped the event would bring the urgent need to take action in the gulf to the attention of a wider audience.

“Kiwis have a special connection to the ocean and so many of us, including foilers, spend hours out on the water, particularly in the Gulf. This event is an awesome opportunity to bring people together to learn about the importance of protecting the Gulf and for the foiling community to take on a challenge doing what they love, in a place they love that’s at a tipping point.”

A public campaign will accompany the foiling event, encouraging participants, spectators, friends and family in attendance, and across all digital platforms to share digital postcard images and messages of what they love about the Gulf which will be sent to politicians - asking for it to be restored for future generations.

Tuke’s fellow Co-CEO and Live Ocean Founder Peter Burling said the passing of the important and historic Bill would be a much needed step forward to halt the decline of the Gulf.

“After decades of work by so many, the Bill would be a huge step forward for one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s most outstanding areas of marine and seabird diversity. As great as the Gulf looks from the surface, it’s at a tipping point below the waterline. We’re hearing huge concern from scientists and locals about what they’re seeing. Restoring and protecting it will help ensure the health of the Gulf for future generations. The Bill is almost there, let’s get it done.”

New Zealand Olympian and passionate foiler Barbara Kendall said “I can’t wait to take part in this event and to help raise awareness for this cause. The Hauraki Gulf has been a part of my life since I was a baby and I want that to be the case for future generations.”

100% of the proceeds of this event will go directly to Live Ocean to support restoration work in the Hauraki Gulf.

Event Details - Foil4TheGulf

The Royal Akarana Yacht Club

Saturday 24 May:

  • 1200hrs registration opens
  • 1315hrs Welcome and event and safety briefing
  • 1400-1445hrs Foilers on the water
  • 1500hrs onwards Speakers and onsite drinks, food and prize-giving
  • 1630hrs Ends

Related Articles

Black Foils into top three for SailGP Season 5
The Black Foils have moved into third place in the season long Rolex SailGP Championship The Black Foils have moved into third place in the season long Rolex SailGP Championship after a second place at the Mubadala New York Sail Grand Prix. Posted on 9 Jun
SailGP: Final race win saves series for BlackFoils
A victory in the final fleet race of the day boosted the Black Foils into fourth after three races A victory in the final fleet race of the day boosted the Black Foils into fourth after three races on the opening day of the Mubadala New York Sail Grand Prix. Posted on 8 Jun
Black Foils complete three days of practice
Mubadala New York Sail Grand Prix will be the first event since March following a fleet pitstop A rare three days of practice sailing have provided the ideal lead into the return of SailGP racing for the Black Foils after a longer than expected break between events. Posted on 7 Jun
SailGP: Black Foils step up to Season 5
Black Foils will face two new teams and changes to most of the fleet's line ups in Dubai Arriving in Dubai ahead of the opening event of the biggest SailGP season yet, the Black Foils are thriving on the unknown and enthusiasm of fresh faces in what is expected to be an unpredictable start to racing. Posted on 19 Nov 2024
The Real Watergate on World Ocean Day
Burling and Tuke are joined by global ocean advocates as they step forward for World Ocean Day Peter Burling and Blair Tuke, world champion sailors and founders of Live Ocean are joined by global ocean advocates as they step forward to speak about what they're calling ‘the greatest cover up in history' for World Ocean Day, 8 June 2023. Posted on 8 Jun 2023
Live Ocean Racing: - Day 4 Quiberon event
The Live Ocean Racing team fifth place in the long-distance raid race sailed on the final day. The Live Ocean Racing team has finished Raid Quiberon fifth overall after a fifth place in the long-distance raid race sailed on the final day in France. Posted on 4 Jun 2023
Live Ocean Racing - Quiberon - Day 3
Another five races were sailed in France where Live Ocean Racing are competing at Raid Quiberon Another five races were sailed in France where Live Ocean Racing are competing at Raid Quiberon in the second event for ETF26 Series 2023. Posted on 3 Jun 2023
Live Ocean Racing: - Day 2 Quiberon
Day 2 of Raid Quiberon regatta presented its challenges for the Live Ocean Racing team Day 2 of Raid Quiberon regatta presented its challenges for the Live Ocean Racing team who are in France competing in the ETF26 SERIES second for the 2023 season. Posted on 2 Jun 2023
Live Ocean Racing: - Day 1 Quiberon
The second event in the 2023 season for the Live Ocean Racing team got underway at Quiberon The second event in the 2023 season for the Live Ocean Racing team led by Liv Mackay kicked off overnight with five races sailed on Quiberon Bay. Posted on 1 Jun 2023
Live Ocean Racing: Kiwis finish fifth overall
The Live Ocean Racing team won the first race of the final day, but broke a rudder in the second Live Ocean Racing team have finished the opening regatta of the ETF26 SERIES in 5th place after a final day of highs and lows from the racetrack. They won the first race, and were on track to win the second before a rudder broke. Posted on 11 Apr 2023
Cyclops Marine 2023 November - FOOTERNorth Sails Loft 57 PodcastHyde Sails 2024 - One Design