The Black Foils face a total change of conditions this weekend as SailGP arrives in Valencia for the first time, swapping Sassnitz's record speeds and storm-force gusts for a forecast of light Mediterranean sea breezes.
It's a fresh test for a team that arrives off the back of a fourth-place finish in Germany, where a finish-line penalty against Spain's Los Gallos cost them a shot at their first podium of the season.
"A lot of SGP is built on the work you do in between events, how quickly you can adapt to new conditions, how you prep without actually being on the boat," co-CEO Blair Tuke said from the Valencia dock after Thursday's practice. "You want to capture the learnings from a windy event like Sassnitz, but then pretty quickly you park it and concentrate on these conditions."
Thursday's session offered the team's first look at the new racecourse in light sea breeze, which Tuke described as "pretty Mediterranean-esque." The Black Foils race in Group A alongside championship leaders Australia's BONDS Flying Roos, Artemis, Explora Swiss, Emirates GBR, Red Bull Italy and Mubadala Brazil, with home team Los Gallos racing in Group B.
"It's going to be really interesting to see probably the first proper light-wind event since we've been in group racing," Tuke said. "I think that'll show a more open racecourse than what we've seen, thinking back to the Middle East events or other light-to-medium regattas."
The practice day also doubled as a chance to test the squad's depth. Strategist Liv Mackay took the wheel for two races, with reserve strategist Kate Stewart filling her usual seat.
"Probably the highlight was a couple of races at the end with Liv driving and Kate in the strategist role," Tuke said. "It's great to see their growth in those roles. To have people in other areas builds confidence for the whole group."
It's also the final event on the Black Foils roster for shore team manager Finn Henry, who departs the team after more than four years. Tuke paid tribute to his contribution: "He's been right at the centre of the Black Foils over the last four years, from his role in the shore team through to shore manager and reserve grinder. He's right in the engine room of the Black Foils."
For a Black Foils camp building steadily since its return from a four-month absence following February's Auckland crash, Valencia is another chance to turn form into a result.
"We're still on the up, that's for sure," Tuke said. "We've been building each weekend. It's nice to make the final, but it'll be great to make one stick."
Racing runs from 1.30pm to 3pm Valencia time on Saturday and Sunday, 11.30pm to 1am NZT, live on ThreeNow.
