Source: Radio New Zealand
Black Foils skipper Peter Burling. Photosport
Black Foils driver Peter Burling is confident he’ll be on board for this weekend’s SailGP grand final in Abu Dhabi.
The New Zealanders are second in the standings, but Burling is in doubt after slicing a finger which required hospital attention.
Burling missed practice on Thursday (local time) as a precaution after cutting his right index finger while trying to fix an issue with a daggerboard during training on Wednesday.
Peter Burling, co-CEO and driver of Black Foils SailGP Team looks on after sustaining a finger injury, Abu Dhabi, 2025. Christopher Pike for SailGP / Supplied
Black Foils strategist Liv Mackay stepped in to drive the boat, while the team will assess Burling’s situation before deciding who will control the boat in Friday’s practice.
Burling admitted the timing was far from ideal as the Black Foils attempt to win their first SailGP title.
“We’ll just kind of monitor the situation as it goes. It’s not the ideal way to build up to the Grand Final, but we feel like the team’s in great shape and it’s now about doing everything I can to recover and make sure I’m ready to go,” he told SailGP.
Burling attended Thursday’s media conference with a heavily bandaged finger and was asked if there was a chance he could miss racing this weekend.
“It depends who you talk to, but I’m sure I’ll figure out how to be there.
“These kind of things can happen to anyone throughout the season and you’ve got to be able to deal with them, so that’s what we’re working through.”
The Black Foils lie second in the overall standings, three points behind leaders Great Britain and two points ahead of Australia.
To make the three-team Grand Final in Abu Dhabi this weekend the New Zealanders have to finish sixth or better in the fleet racing part of the Abu Dhabi Sail Grand Prix.
Meanwhile, Burling has been voted the winner of the MVP category in the 2025 SailGP Fan Awards.
Burling recently commented [https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/sport/579918/peter-burling-says-control-team-new-zealand-wanted-over-him-was-just-crazy on his departure from the Team New Zealand America’s Cup syndicate, saying the control Team New Zealand wanted over him was “just crazy”.
– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
