If you’ve never watched SailGP before, the first thing you know is that these catamarans are built with serious speed in mind. Add a determined crew making split-second decisions onboard and you can expect things to get intense, very quickly.
Among the teams taking on the challenge are New Zealand’s Black Foils. After February’s Auckland collision kept them out of racing for four months, the Black Foils have been rebuilding momentum. Their championship hopes were curtailed by that enforced absence, but they head to the UAE determined to finish strongly, build on their progress in light-air racing and carry that form into 2027. See the action unfold live for yourself by getting your tickets.
21 November 2026 13:30 + more dates
Meet the team behind the Black Foils
Behind the black F50 catamaran is a crew that has to make decisions in fractions of a second. Peter Burling co-leads and drives the Black Foils alongside co-CEO Blair Tuke, while Leo Takahashi takes on the role of flight controller, keeping the boat at the right height and speed as it lifts above the water. The key to speed is underneath the catamarans themselves. Once the F50’s pick up enough speed, their hydrofoils lift the hulls clear of the surface and suddenly you’re watching 15-metre catamarans fly across the water at over 100km/h
Every adjustment, call and movement on board matters, especially when conditions change and the boat is already traveling at a high speed. It’s where the team’s focus on communication, accuracy and adaptability play a major role. And after almost an entire season of learning and development, the Black Foils continue to grow their progress in light-air racing, bringing everything they’ve learned into the final stretch of the season and towards 2027.
Co-CEOs Burling and Tuke also founded Live Ocean, a New Zealand marine conservation foundation. Through the team, they use sport as a way to raise awareness of ocean protection. It’s a connection that works perfectly alongside the racing, with the ocean being where the Black Foils compete, train and spend much of their time, so protecting it has become part of the team’s wider purpose.
Catch the SailGP action live in Dubai
If you already follow SailGP closely or you’re just curious to see what happens when a 15-metre catamaran starts soaring across the water, the Emirates Dubai Sail Grand Prix, presented by DP World, is your chance to catch the Black Foils in action.
Emirates Dubai Sail Grand Prix presented by DP World
21 November 2026 13:30 + more dates
