New Zealand's Black Foils Return to SailGP Following Devastating Auckland Crash

The New Zealand Black Foils are officially back on the water. This weekend at the SailGP event in Halifax, Canada, Peter Burling's squad will return to the start line after a grueling four-event absence that tested the limits of the team's resilience.[1]

The Kiwis will be sailing a brand-new F50 catamaran, freshly commissioned from the SailGP Technologies facility in Southampton. The new vessel replaces the team's original boat, Amokura, which was destroyed in a catastrophic collision earlier this year.[1][2]

The incident occurred in February during the ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix in Auckland. Racing in strong, gusty winds on a tight course, the Black Foils lost control near the first gate and spun directly into the path of Quentin Delapierre’s DS Automobiles Team France.[4]

The resulting impact was devastating. The French boat, traveling at nearly 90 km/h, rode over the top of the New Zealand vessel, slicing off its port bow and dismasting the Kiwi catamaran. The two 50-foot foiling yachts were left locked together in the water as emergency crews rushed to the scene.[4][5]

The human toll of the crash was severe. Black Foils grinder Louis Sinclair suffered compound fractures to both legs. He was swiftly evacuated from the stricken F50 and rushed to Auckland Hospital, where he underwent surgery to stabilize the injuries.[2][3][4]

French strategist Manon Audinet was also caught in the violence of the impact. Positioned leeward while preparing for a gybe, she was thrown violently forward, shattering the F50's steering wheel with her body. She was treated for abdominal injuries but avoided more catastrophic outcomes.[3][5]

In the months since, Sinclair's recovery has become a rallying point for the New Zealand squad. After his initial hospital stay, Sinclair traveled home to Antigua to continue his rehabilitation. Black Foils Co-CEO Blair Tuke praised the grinder's composure, noting that Sinclair's calmness in the immediate aftermath helped the team stay focused and unified during their prolonged absence.[2]

While Sinclair continues his recovery at home, the team has brought in experienced SailGP athlete Stewart Dodson to serve as his replacement for the remainder of the 2026 season. Dodson will step into the physically demanding grinder role as the team looks to regain its footing in Halifax.[1]

The rebuild process itself was a logistical marathon. Because of SailGP's post-incident protocols, the salvageable parts of the wrecked Amokura were immediately handed over to the French team so they could repair their boat and return to racing in Rio. New Zealand, meanwhile, had to wait for an entirely new hull to be constructed in the UK and shipped across the Atlantic.[1][2]

The Auckland crash has amplified ongoing conversations about the extreme physical demands of modern foiling. Even before the collision, the 2026 season opener in Perth saw multiple athletes injured, including Artemis Racing's Chris Draper, who suffered facial injuries, and Australia's Ian Jensen, who injured his knee during a high-speed gybe. The sheer power of the F50s means that any mistake carries immense physical risk.[6]

Competitively, the enforced absence has severely penalized the Black Foils. Missing the events in Rio, Bermuda, and New York has left one of SailGP's most decorated franchises languishing at the bottom of the 13-team leaderboard.[1][2]

However, the season is far from over. With seven events still remaining on the 2026 calendar, the Black Foils remain mathematically in contention for a place in the season-ending Grand Final. Their first real test will come during Friday's practice racing in Halifax, where Burling and his crew will finally put their new F50—and their newly reformed roster—through its paces.[1]