New Zealand's Black Foils have confirmed two additions to their coaching and performance staff ahead of the 2026 SailGP season, with Matt Steven and Will McKenzie stepping into newly created roles within the team's high-performance structure. Their appointments follow the departures of last season's support staff: Sam Meech has moved to Sweden's Artemis SailGP Team, and Jo Aleh has taken up a new role with Emirates Team New Zealand within the America's Cup programme.
Steven arrives at the Black Foils from Yachting New Zealand, where his most recent posting was as coach to the men's 49er campaign at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. That campaign, which he ran alongside McKenzie and Isaac McHardie, ended with a silver medal. In his new position with the Black Foils, Steven will lead performance planning and development across racing, training, and review.
McKenzie brings a combination of elite sailing experience and an emerging engineering background to the role. Working from the coaching booth, he will contribute to tactical decision-making and performance analysis, with particular emphasis on converting data and on-water observations into practical adjustments from race to race.
Black Foils co-CEO and wing trimmer Blair Tuke framed the two appointments as a reflection of how support structures across the SailGP fleet are continuing to grow in sophistication. "High-performance support units in SailGP are becoming more specialised," Tuke said. "We're looking forward to what Matt and Will can add as we work to improve from event to event."
Co-CEO and driver Peter Burling drew attention to the thread connecting the Black Foils to the 49er class, a link that now runs through much of the team's wider group. "There's a long history in SailGP of sailors and coaches coming through the 49er," Burling said. "With Matt and Will joining, six members of our group now have strong links to that class. They bring different perspectives, both on and off the water, which we think will strengthen the overall team setup."
Steven said he was looking forward to joining the Black Foils as the season gets under way. "I've known several members of the team for a long time and followed SailGP closely," he said. "This is a chance to step into a new environment and contribute to the team's performance on the water."
For McKenzie, the role marks a shift in how he engages with the sport. "It's an opportunity to work in a different capacity and apply my sailing experience alongside technical analysis," he said. "Having raced with and against Pete, Blair, and Leo in the 49er, it's good to now be working together."
Both Steven and McKenzie are in Australia this week, with the Black Foils preparing for the opening round of the 2026 SailGP season at the Oracle Perth Sail Grand Prix, presented by KPMG.
