Peter Burling knows better than most that building a grand prix racing catamaran from scratch is no small undertaking. The New Zealand SailGP co-CEO and driver is facing exactly that prospect after the collision between the Kiwi F50 Amokura and DS Automobiles Team France during the ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix in Auckland in February inflicted damage too severe to repair. SailGP Technologies is now constructing the Black Foils a brand-new F50 at its facility in Southampton, and the team remains stood down until the replacement vessel is built, shipped to the relevant venue, and fully commissioned.
In the immediate wake of the incident, every usable component stripped from Amokura was redirected to get the French boat back on the water. DS Automobiles Team France lines up in Rio this weekend as a result, while what remains of the Kiwi F50 makes its way to Southampton.
Burling is clear-eyed about just how involved the road back will be.
"Missing any event is hard on the team, but there are a lot of moving parts in building a new boat and getting it to an event. We already get limited time on the water across the year, so factoring in commissioning time for a completely new boat adds another layer. SailGP Technologies do an amazing job and we know they're doing everything they can to get us back out there."
A firmer picture of exactly when the Black Foils will rejoin the season is expected after Rio concludes. The calendar then runs through Bermuda on 10 and 11 May, New York on 31 May and 1 June, and Halifax on 21 and 22 June, before the fleet reaches Portsmouth on 26 and 27 July for the European leg.
Of the human toll from the Auckland collision, grinder Louis Sinclair bore the most serious injuries, suffering fractures to both legs. His right leg required surgery, and he spent a period recovering at Auckland Hospital before making the journey home to Antigua to be with his family. His medical team has expressed optimism about his chances of getting back on the boat, though a precise timeline is still being determined.
Co-CEO and wing trimmer Blair Tuke said the way Sinclair had carried himself through the ordeal had drawn the whole group together.
"The way Louis has dealt with this has been something else. The calm he showed straight after the incident, and the way he's gone about his recovery since — it's been hard not to draw strength from that. It's pulled the group together and I think we'll be better for it when we get back on the water."
Preparations for the new build are already under way. Shore crew members are set to travel to England later this month to work alongside SailGP Technologies during the construction process, while head coach Matt Steven keeps the broader squad sharp in the meantime.
Both Burling and Tuke took time to acknowledge the support the team had received since the incident. "The support from our fans and partners means a lot at the best of times. Right now it means even more." The team also passed on their best wishes to DS Automobiles Team France as they return to competition in Rio this weekend.
