SailGP: Black Foils lead group after strong opening day in Portsmouth
by James Rigby/NZSailGP 25 Jul 22:08 BST
Black Foils - lead after Day 1 - Emirates Great Britain SailGP - Portsmouth, United Kingdom - July 25, 2026 © Ricardo Pinto/SailGP
New Zealand's Black Foils lead their group at the Emirates Great Britain Sail Grand Prix after a strong opening day on the Solent, capping the afternoon with a race win that leaves them in a strong position to reach Sunday's final.
On a day of six races and six different winners, the Black Foils built steadily through their three Group A races, opening with a fourth, a second, and winning their final race of the day, hitting 96 km/h on the sprint to the first mark and controlling the fleet from start to finish.
The result lifted them to the top of the group overnight on 11 points, one clear of NorthStar Canada, with the top two teams from each group going through to Sunday's four-boat final.
Racing unfolded in glamour conditions on a tight stadium course, with a fresh breeze of around 30 km/h kicking up a building Solent chop.
Black Foils co-CEO and driver Peter Burling said: "It was an awesome day's racing. It's really good fun racing those boats in that 18-metre configuration with a bit of breeze, and a super interesting racetrack with the fort right in the middle and the navigation piles for the aircraft carriers.
"It was a bit of a tough first race, but then to get a second and win that last one really improved a few of the areas we were working on through the day. That was really pleasing for the group, and it sets us up in a great place for tomorrow."
Burling put the improvement down to time back on the water in a strong breeze.
"It's just getting more comfortable in the boat again. It's been a long time since we've sailed in windy conditions like that," he said. "I made a few mistakes at the start in the first couple, but it was nice to rectify that and lead from my corner in the third one."
The new group racing format, in use for the rest of the season, suited the team.
"It's how we've done our practice racing for a long time with slightly smaller fleets, so it doesn't feel massively different," Burling said. "It's the same things that win you races. Get off the line well and sail the boat well. There are a few more opportunities if you're back, so we looked to make the most of those."
The win came on a good day for the team, with Saturday the birthday of both co-CEO and wing trimmer Blair Tuke and one of the team's new investors.
"It was great to give Blair a win for his birthday, and one of our new investors was celebrating his birthday too, so it was great to put on a good show for both of them," Burling said.
Elsewhere across the fleet, Sweden's Artemis lead Group B overnight on 13 points, while home team Emirates Great Britain kept their hopes of reaching the final alive with a win in the last race in front of a roaring crowd. Season leaders Bonds Flying Roos endured a difficult opening day.
Portsmouth also marked a debut for the Black Foils, with Stewart Dodson racing for the team for the first time.
More than 10,000 fans packed the Portsmouth waterfront.
"It's so cool seeing so many people in the grandstands, 10,000-plus cheering us on," Burling said. "You really get that buzz down by the bottom marks. It's super cool for the sport to have events like this."
The fleet returns on Sunday for two more qualifying races in each group before the four-boat final, with a similar breeze forecast. Racing resumes from 4.30pm BST (3.30am Monday NZT), live in New Zealand on on Youtube.