Peter Burling and Blair Tuke christen New Zealand's SailGP boat

SAILGP

New Zealand's SailGP catamaran is christened and checked in Bermuda.

The sleek black 50-foot foiling catamaran was put in the water but didn't go sailing as it went through a systems check at the dock.

“It was a pretty cool moment for the team,” helmsman and co-chief executive Peter Burling told Stuff after a long day.

“It was a case of getting the gremlins ironed out and making sure all the systems were talking to each other. We look forward now to sailing it.”

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With the eight teams sailing identical supplied F50 cats, the Kiwis have managed to get in a couple of hours training on rival boats on each of the last three days while the SailGP technicians, who provide a central service to all the teams, have poured over the New Zealand boat to get it race-ready.

The boat was rushed to Bermuda and, like its crew, was the last to arrive. They then hit a snag as the island was enveloped in a Covid resurgence that restricted the regatta’s last-minute preparations.

For Burling and his crew of America’s Cup winners supplemented by women sailors Liv Mackay and Erica Dawson, it’s been a massive learning experience in terms of logistics and getting reacquainted with these radical boats.

The F50s have been significantly modified since Burling, Blair Tuke, Andy Maloney and Josh Junior sailed the Team New Zealand cycle-powered version to their stunning America’s Cup victory in Bermuda four years ago.

There’s also been the need for adjustments on the back of the just-completed America’s Cup which was defended on a 75-foot foiling monohull.

SAILGP

Peter Burling and his New Zealand team trial their new wingsail on the British boat as last-minute preparations for the start of the SailGP continue in Bermuda.

Burling said he quickly felt at home on the wheel of the cat.

“It’s been cool to just jump on a boat like we have and be pretty much up to speed. But in the same regard it’s going to be pretty challenging. It definitely feels like the other teams have been able to put in a lot more sailing than we have. It seems like they have an upper hand.

“Every minute on the water is going to be critical to getting up to speed to make sure that come race time, we are ready to go.”

He is hopeful of getting the New Zealand boat under sail on Thursday (NZT) if the wind forecast cooperates.

Supplied

The fleet racing format for SailGP will test the reactions of Peter Burloing and his New Zealand crew.

They then have two official days of practice ahead of the opening race on Sunday (5am NZT).

“It’s going to be good to check in and actually see how everyone is going,” Burling said.

“We haven't had the buildup and when we signed up for SailGP we knew these first two or three events were going to be pretty challenging for the New Zealand team.

“It’s about improving and making sure we get better every time we line up.”

Burling said Mackay and Dawson were lapping up their new experience, albeit on a compressed schedule. They were filling in where they could as the squad sorted out the best use of everyone’s roles and skills.

Burling and Tuke took great delight at the sight of their new wingsail, which is a super-sized billboard for their environmental cause Live Ocean. They will now take their message to the world with more than 170 countries on the broadcast feed for this league that features eight regattas.

“For us, one of the motivating factors for joining this league was to be able to take that message of ocean restoration and protection around the globe. SailGP are pushing their ‘Race For The Future’ message incredibly hard as well. It just seems there are quite a few synergies there,” Burling said.

Stuff