Black Foils to Return to SailGP Racing After Rio Debut

Black Foils Sidelined for Rio: Latest Zealand’s Path Back to SailGP Racing

New Zealand’s Black Foils will be missing from the start line at this week’s Enel Rio Sail Grand Prix. The team is currently navigating a complex recovery process following a devastating high-speed collision that left their F50 boat, Amokura, beyond immediate repair.

While the team is pursuing a return to competitive racing as soon as possible, the road back involves a complete rebuild and a logistical operation spanning continents. A clearer timeline for their return is expected to be confirmed following the conclusion of the Rio event.

The Auckland Collision: What Happened to Amokura?

The Black Foils’ absence is the direct result of a severe incident during the ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix in Auckland on February 14, 2026. During Race Day 1, the Kiwi F50 Amokura collided with DS Automobiles Team France.

The impact was significant enough to trigger specific post-incident repair protocols. Under these rules, the salvageable parts of the Black Foils’ boat were used to repair the French vessel. DS Automobiles Team France has been able to return to the water for the Rio event, while the remaining wreckage of the New Zealand boat was sent to SailGP Technologies in Southampton.

A Fresh Start: The New F50 Build in Southampton

Because the damage to Amokura was so extensive, SailGP Technologies is providing the Black Foils with an entirely new boat. This vessel is currently being built from the ground up in Southampton.

However, receiving a new boat is not as simple as delivery. The team must manage a strict sequence of events before they can compete again:

• Production: The completion of the new F50 build.
• Logistics: Transporting the boat from the UK facility to the next designated event location.
• Commissioning: A critical phase where the boat is tested and tuned before it is cleared for competitive sailing.

The “Complex Puzzle” of Returning to the Start Line

Black Foils Co-CEO and driver Peter Burling has described the timeline for their return as a “complex puzzle.” Burling noted that the team already deals with limited time on their boats throughout the year, and adding the commissioning phase for a brand-new vessel adds another layer of difficulty.

The team is working closely with the league to solve these logistical challenges, balancing production timelines with the need for the crew to get comfortable with the new hardware before facing the world’s best sailors.

Upcoming SailGP Schedule

With Rio currently underway, the Black Foils are looking toward the remaining stops in the Rolex SailGP Championship. The upcoming schedule includes:

• Bermuda: May 10 – 11
• New York: May 31 – June 1
• Halifax: June 21 – 22
• Portsmouth: July 26 – 27 (Start of the European leg)