SailGP: Black Foils to miss two more regattas - return targeted for June
by Ben Mackey 30 Apr 17:47 PDT
Black Foils (NZL) - Day 1 - ITM NZ SailGP - Auckland - February 14, 2026 © Richard Gladwell - Sail-World.com/nz
New Zealand's Black Foils won't be on the startline at either of May's Rolex SailGP Championship events.
After the May events in Bermuda and New York the league's next stop is a return to Halifax (21 - 22 June) before moving across the Atlantic to Portsmouth (26-27 July) for the start of the European leg of the season.
A final return date for the Black Foils is still being worked on by the team in conjunction with SailGP but the Halifax event remains a clear target for everyone involved.
Black Foils Co-CEO and Driver Peter Burling said the team continued to take a long term view on the time off the water.
"We would like to be back racing as soon as possible but also understand there is an existing boat building programme and logistics timeline the league needs to work with. Based on where things are currently at we are hopeful we can make that happen for Halifax. Huge strides have been made by the league in building resilience in the fleet with SailGP Technologies and we know they are working hard on getting us back out there. It's been great having a member of our Shore Crew also working alongside the team in Southampton on the return."
Black Foils Strategist Liv Mackay raced on loan with DS Automobiles Team France in Rio and will once again be part of the French crew in Bermuda.
Black Foils Co-CEO and Wing Trimmer Blair Tuke said the experience added value for the whole team.
"We fully supported Liv taking up the opportunity to race with France. It's a positive chance for her to return to racing and to continue to get valuable time on the water while also supporting their team while Manon continues her recovery. We are actively working as a sailing team to take steps forward while we are off the water and that has been different for each member of the group. The fact that Liv can continue to get that exposure to SailGP racing is fantastic for her and the team."
Members of the Black Foils Shore Crew continue to support the work on returning to racing at SailGP Technologies with a change in personnel in Southampton from New Zealand happening in the next fortnight.