SailGP racing returns to New York this weekend following a 77-day break, with the New Zealand Black Foils looking sharp and ready to defend their 2024 victory in the city. The Mubadala New York Sail Grand Prix is the sixth stop on the 2025 calendar, and Friday’s practice showed Peter Burling’s crew has lost none of its edge during the off-season.
The long break followed a serious wing collapse in San Francisco that led to the cancellation of the Rio event and a full refit of all 12 F50 wings. These modifications added weight and changed the handling characteristics of the boats, but the Black Foils adapted quickly, finishing top of their practice group with a 1-3-1 scorecard.
New York Harbour’s racecourse is notoriously tricky—tightly wedged between Manhattan and Governors Island with skyscraper-induced shifts, unpredictable breeze, and strong tidal flows from the Hudson and East Rivers. That tidal influence is especially strong this year, and strategist Liv Mackay said conditions on Friday were different than expected, with more breeze and a last-minute schedule change due to forecast thunderstorms.
Organisers responded by moving racing forward by two and a half hours. For Kiwi fans, that means an early Sunday morning wake-up, with races starting at 5:00am NZST. Weather conditions are expected to favour those who can adapt quickly—something the Black Foils have already demonstrated.
The Kiwis dominated in New York last season, and that experience appears to be paying off. Mackay said returning to the harbour was emotional and energising, with the team feeling the momentum returning after their recent break. Integration of flight controller Leo Takahashi continues smoothly, and the team’s cohesion shows in their confident boat handling.
Elsewhere, the Australian BONDS Flying Roos, led by Tom Slingsby, looked strong in Group B, continuing their dominance at the top of the leaderboard. New Zealand sits fourth overall, just behind Spain and Emirates GBR, and a solid performance this weekend could tighten the standings considerably with only four events remaining in the season.
While celebrity team ownership has made headlines—Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman backing Australia, Anne Hathaway supporting Italy—New Zealand remains focused and league-owned, relying on discipline and execution rather than Hollywood hype.
With big conditions, big names, and big stakes, SailGP’s return to New York promises high drama. The Black Foils are poised for another standout performance—and New Zealand fans will be watching closely, coffee in hand.
For more details:
- Black Foils return to New York with momentum and memories
- Race Preview: Black Foils on form as SailGP returns to New York