The Black Foils Are back and ready for SailGP Auckland

The New Zealand SailGP Team are set to return for their home event in Auckland after a rapid recovery from a dramatic crash in Perth that ended their opening weekend early. A round-the-clock repair effort has put the Kiwi crew back on track for the ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix | Auckland on February 14–15, setting up a highly anticipated return in front of a home crowd on the Waitematā Harbour.

Wing trimmer Blair Tuke said the team is “absolutely pumped” to be racing again. The collision with Switzerland caused severe damage to the left-side hull, but inspections confirmed the F50’s main structure remained intact, allowing repairs rather than a full replacement.

A new hull section was built in Southampton and flown to New Zealand, with the Black Foils now focused on getting back on the startline when SailGP returns to Auckland.