BLACK FOILS
Peter Burling admitted that defeat in the 2025 Season Grand Final “hurt” his Black Foils team – but also strengthened their resolve to come back even stronger.
After falling short in a dramatic, high-stakes showdown in Abu Dhabi, Burling made it clear the setback has only sharpened the team’s focus as they turn the page and push toward 2026 with renewed determination.
Burling said his crew had delivered much of the Grand Final race they wanted, even if the outcome stung.
“We were at the top end of the line but didn’t quite get the acceleration we’d hoped for,” he said. “We went wide at mark one, took the route we wanted to build a healthy lead, and then a mistake at the top mark gave the British a massive jump.”
But with the dust settling, Burling is far more interested in what comes next.
Despite the frustration, he stressed his pride in the Black Foils’ body of work this season – and their commitment to evolving.
“I’m super proud of what we’ve done this season,” he said. “We definitely had our ups and downs, so we’ll keep building into next season.
“We’ll take a step forward as all the transfer news unfolds now, but we’re excited for what’s next.
“It’s not too far away, and there’s not heaps to change between now and then – we just want to start strong.”
For Burling, the pain of the moment is proof of a team fully invested in its mission.
“We’re all definitely hurting right now, but that’s what you want in these situations,” he said.
“If the team didn’t care about what we’re doing and the mission we’re on, we wouldn’t feel the hurt we’re feeling now. Super close, but the cards didn’t quite go our way this time.”
And as they look ahead, the target is clear: hit 2026 at full speed and achieve what they just fell short of this season.
“It’s hard for us – this was our third opportunity to win SailGP,” Burling said. “We’ve won well over 50% of the Finals we’ve been in, but we still haven’t managed to win a Grand Final… we didn’t manage to win the points this season either, so that’s the goal for us.”
The Black Foils will be back in action when the 2026 Season kicks off in Perth, Australia, on January 17/18. Grab your tickets to the 2026 Season opener HERE!
