The Black Foils, New Zealand's SailGP team, have confirmed they will sit out the KPMG Australia Sail Grand Prix in Sydney following the collision with DS Automobiles SailGP Team France during Race 3 of the ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix in Auckland.
Co CEO Blair Tuke was direct when speaking to media: "Definitely out for Sydney."
Whether the team will be back on the water after that remains an open question. When pressed on a return date, Tuke was measured. "Not yet. No, it's too early," he said. "As Pete mentioned, definitely out for Sydney. I'm just going to try and see from there."
SailGP has confirmed a formal review is now underway. The league will assess data, onboard systems and footage as it works to understand the full circumstances of the high-speed incident.
Both Peter Burling and Blair Tuke steered clear of speculation about potential changes to fleet size, race format or course configuration, making clear those decisions sit with the league rather than the competing teams.
Tuke acknowledged the seriousness of what occurred while expressing trust in the process. "This all needs to be reviewed, right? It's a serious incident," he said. "But everyone involved in SailGP is prioritising the safety of the athletes." He added: "I'm confident that the due process will take place and changes, whatever they may be, will take place."
Neither Tuke nor Burling suggested the incident had altered their fundamental view of the sport. Tuke was candid about the realities of competing at this level. "We know where we're putting ourselves and what the dangers can be or could entail," he said. "Of course it's a significant incident… But no, I don't think it changed anything from how we've approached the race."
The team's immediate focus remains on recovery, the league's review process and preparing to return to competition once that process is complete.
