This year marks the 2026 season of the Sail Grand Prix, the international high-speed sailing championship. Thirteen teams are competing in F50 catamarans: “foiling” machines capable of reaching speeds exceeding 100 km/h thanks to their hydrodynamic wings (the foils) that literally lift the boat out of the water.
One of these teams, New Zealand’s Black Foils, suffered an accident last February. It was the day of the grand opening of the Sail Grand Prix in Auckland. Their catamaran was gliding across the water at approximately 90 km/h.
Suddenly, an unexpected gust of wind struck the boat: the New Zealand team lost control at high speed, and their boat veered sharply, cutting across the path of the French team. The French team, despite attempting to maneuver to avoid it, did not have time to react and ended up colliding with the side of the New Zealanders’ catamaran.
The consequences were devastating. Both boats sustained significant damage, two athletes had to be taken to the hospital, and the organizers canceled the day’s races.
Black Foils: A Sailing Team with Heart
Following the serious accident, the members of the Black Foils team had to completely rebuild their high-tech catamaran (a racing boat that “flies” over the water thanks to foils—submerged wings that lift it at high speeds).
Four long months passed, and the team missed four Grand Prix events until the new boat was completed. They named it Manawatītī.
In Halifax (Canada), Manawatītī (the new catamaran) took to the waves for the first time. There, the New Zealanders narrowly missed advancing to the final. Next came the Sail Grand Prix in the United Kingdom, where the team competed under the sponsorship of Fever. And once again, they narrowly missed advancing to the final.
But the next event is just around the corner: the Spain Sail Grand Prix 2026 on September 5 and 6 in Valencia. Will Black Foils claim victory this time?
More than just a racing team: the team committed to marine conservation
Where do the Black Foils find the strength to keep going, to not give up after defeats and victories that slip through their fingers? The reason this team simply doesn’t give up lies in its deep connection to the sea.
The Live Ocean Foundation was created in 2019 by Peter Burling and Blair Tuke, co-CEOs of Black Foils, and supports measures to protect the world’s oceans. It funds and supports marine scientists, nature conservation projects, and innovative technologies. Live Ocean is also deeply committed to expanding marine protected areas.
Live Ocean has used sports to turn ocean issues into citizen action. In 2025, Foil4TheGulf brought together more than 200 participants for the largest foiling event ever held in New Zealand, in support of legislation to protect the Hauraki Gulf. The following year, Jono Ridler swam 1,367 kilometers in 90 days as part of Swim4TheOcean, an initiative carried out in collaboration with Live Ocean. The campaign generated a petition with 73,647 signatures that was presented to the New Zealand Parliament and earned Black Foils the 2026 SailGP Better Planet Award.
At the Spain Sail Grand Prix in Valencia, you can experience the Black Foils live
Whether you’re already a die-hard sailing fan or have just discovered the sport, the Sail Grand Prix is coming to Valencia with high-speed action, intense rivalries, and new friendships to be made.
📆 Saturday, September 5, and Sunday, September 6, 2026
