Imagine it’s the grand opening day of the Sail Grand Prix in Auckland earlier this year. A catamaran is racing across the water at 90 km/h. But suddenly, an unexpected gust of wind hits. The New Zealand team loses control. Their catamaran, the Amokura, swerves sharply and ends up sideways in front of the French boat. Crash!
The consequences: devastating. The boats sustain massive damage, two athletes must be taken to the hospital, and race officials call off the day’s racing early. A difficult period of reconstruction lies ahead for the Black Foils.
The Black Foils: A Sailing Team with Heart
After the severe crash, the Black Foils’ catamaran must be completely rebuilt at SailGP Technologies in Southampton, England, with the team’s help. The damaged French boat is also being repaired there— using parts from the destroyed Amokura.
The Black Foils, however, have to build a completely new boat. Four long months pass. The team misses four SailGP events until the new boat is finally completed.
They christen the new catamaran Manawatītī. The name was bestowed by the Māori master navigator Hoturoa Barclay-Kerr. It means: “The heart of a Tītī.” A seabird that travels great distances yet always returns home.
The Manawatītī on a Comeback Journey
In Halifax,Manawatītī races across the waves for the first time. There, the New Zealanders narrowly miss qualifying for the final. Then comes the SailGP in Great Britain. There , the strong team sails under the banner of their new sponsor, Fever, which also organizes many events in Berlin. Here, too, they narrowly miss qualifying for the final.
But soon comes the next stop and the next chance: SailGP 2026 on August 22 and 23 in Sassnitz on Rügen.
But where do the Black Foils find the strength to keep going, to never give up after defeats and narrowly missed victories? The reason lies in their deep connection to the sport of sailing and to the ocean.
Driven by Wind and Sea: The Black Foils and Live Ocean
The Black Foils’ managing directors, Peter Burling and Blair Tuke, founded the Live Ocean Foundation in 2019 to protect the oceans. It supports marine scientists, conservation projects , and innovative technologies. The Black Foils serve as a platform to share Live Ocean’s work with the world.
Among Live Ocean’s successes is the campaign to save the endangered Antipodean albatross. The organization also supports the Citizens of the Sea project, in which sailors worldwide collect environmental DNA to map marine biodiversity and the effects of climate change.
You can experience the Black Foils live at SailGP in Sassnitz!
Whether you’re already die-hard sailing fans or have just discovered this elite sport: Join us at SailGP on Rügen and experience intense sailing action, fierce rivalries, and new friendships.
📍 Sassnitz, Rügen (Baltic Sea)
📆 Sunday, August 22 and 23, 2026
⏳ All day
💵 Tickets approx. 100 €
ℹ️ More info and tickets
