This morning (Tuesday 14 January) the Boating New Zealand team had the absolute pleasure of catching up with much-loved New Zealand sailor Peter Burling, CEO of the Black Foils and driver of Amokura , at the SailGP Village, in Auckland, New Zealand.
Behind us, the teams who hadn't practiced out on the water yesterday, lifted their boats onto the water and headed out. The weather had settled since yesterday afternoon; the winds still there but not as strong and the gusts had died down. By this afternoon, it is likely the winds will have picked up again, making today's practice session potentially as invigorating as yesterday's - good strong Hauraki Gulf winds! By all accounts, Auckland's winds and veritable gusts might not be something the teams are used to, and yesterday, today, and the next few days might be a lesson on how to sail⏤and sail fast⏤in faster winds.
Focusing on Peter Burling, we had the pleasure of meeting him in person for the first time during an interview with Boating New Zealand , where we finally got to ask the questions we've been eager to discuss. He took our questions and answered in a calm, unassuming manner. It’s easy to see why he creates magic on the water with his team—he exudes a quiet strength that naturally inspires trust.
Our first question related to how he balances his roles of CEO and driver. For Burling, balancing the dual responsibilities of driving the boat and overseeing the team is no small feat. SailGP's high-pressure environment demands meticulous planning both on and off the water. Although it has become harder and harder as the number of competitors in the challenge has increased, Burling has found that delegating responsibility, so others can take some of the workload helps keep things moving forward.
"There’s a pretty limited window to be out there sailing these boats," Burling explained. "Combining on-water and off-water roles has been challenging but rewarding. Delegating responsibilities to a strong team has been key to keeping everything moving forward."
