New Zealand’s Black Foils will return to SailGP racing at the Canada Sail Grand Prix in Halifax on June 20 and 21, four months after a serious crash in Auckland. The team has been away from competition since February, when their F50 boat collided with DS Automobiles Team France on Waitematā Harbour. New boat parts are already on their way from England, helping to confirm the team’s comeback.
The crash caused major damage to the Black Foils’ boat and injured grinder Louis Sinclair, who suffered compound fractures to both legs. The team’s original F50 was too badly damaged to repair, so they will race in a new boat built by SailGP Technologies in Southampton. Some parts from the damaged boat were reused to help repair the French F50 under SailGP rules.
Co-CEO and driver Peter Burling said the team was very excited to be racing again after a difficult few months. Co-CEO and wing trimmer Blair Tuke said the group had stayed united during a challenging time. Sinclair is still recovering and will not race in Halifax, so experienced SailGP athlete Stewart Dodson will step in for the rest of the season.
The Black Foils have missed four events since Auckland and are now at the bottom of the 13-team championship standings. However, with seven events still left in the 2026 season, they still have a chance of reaching the Grand Final. Team members Liv Mackay and Marcus Hansen have kept race-ready by joining other teams on loan, and the Black Foils will travel to Halifax early to prepare their new boat.
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