NZ SailGP team make improvements from last season

SailGP Chicago
Photo: PHOTOSPORT

The New Zealand SailGP team believe they’ve made the advances needed since their dramatic grand final loss last season.

The new expanded series starts in Chicago this weekend with New Zealand expected to again contend for the title after finishing second in the last series decider in San Francisco a few weeks ago.

Australia claimed its third consecutive title and the million dollar winners cheque after pipping the kiwis by just six seconds in early May.

“We’re trying to make a few steps forward from where we were a few weeks ago,” skipper Peter Burling told RNZ.

“It was pretty cool to be able to put together a really solid effort in the final.

“Since then we’ve more been trying to plan the whole season out and with the winner to take all in the last race, you’ve got to make sure you’re progressing and developing throughout the season to give yourself the best shot of winning that last one.”

NZ SailGP
Photo: PHOTOSPORT

SailGP teams are only given one day of practice ahead of a regatta.

“We get such a limited time out on the water that every time you are out there then you’re getting better and improving.

“Our goal is to set the benchmark across the league and while we’re doing that in some areas, we’ve still got other areas we need to improve on.

Chicago is the first of twelve regattas this season with the inclusion of New York and the New Zealand round in Auckland in March.

There are now also ten countries taking part with Germany about to compete for the first time.

The German team will be driven by Erik Heil, who won bronze medals at the 2016 and 2020 Olympics in the 49er class, behind New Zealanders Burling and Blair Tuke.

Four time Formula One champion Sebastian Vettel is one of the German investors.

Participating teams: Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Great Britain, New Zealand, Spain, Switzerland and the United States.

SAILGP calendar:

16-17 June 2023: Chicago

22-23 July 2023: Los Angeles

9-10 September 2023: Saint-Tropez

23-24 September 2023: Taranto

14-15 October 2023: Andalucía-Cádiz

13-14 January 2024: UAE

24-25 February 2024: Sydney

23-24 March 2024: Auckland

4-5 May 2024: Bermuda

1-2 June 2024: Canada

22-23 June 2024: New York

13-14 July 2024: San Francisco