November 22, 2024 • 8 mins
The newest Sail GP season is about to get underway.
The Black Foils are preparing to set sail on the seas in Dubai.
Piney caught up with co-CEO and river Peter Burling to discuss the team’s expectations for the new season.
“We really want to get off to a good start this weekend,” he said.
“But we know we’ve got a lot to learn and improve.”
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport Podcast with Jason Fine
from newstalksed B.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
The twenty twenty five Sale GP season kicks off and
du buy this weekend. Black Foil's co CEO and driver
Peter Burling is with us out of Dubai. Peter, thanks
for taking the time. It's only a month or so
since you retain the America's Cup off the coast of Barcelona.
How long were you able to celebrate and enjoy that
before switching your focus to sale GP again.
Speaker 3 (00:35):
Yeah, we had a know, an amazing celebration in Barcelona,
and yeah, what a special victory that was, you know
for me. Since end, it's actually been a little bit
of time off with the family. It's always incredible when
you get to the end of those events, just how
tired you actually are. So get minised to have a
little bit of time off in Barcelona and then do
(00:56):
a little bit of trip around with the family and
then yeah, looking forward to to getting home over and
actually made it home yet after that, So looking forward
to getting home after this weekend. And it's been able
to time and in deed over the summer all right.
Speaker 2 (01:09):
Just before we move on to sol GP how do
you reflect on your success off the coast of Barcelona?
You know, how do you how will you remember you know,
going back to back to back.
Speaker 3 (01:20):
I think it's just an amazing team effort to see
everything come together. It's, yeah, a culmination of so much
hard work with so many people, you know, over over
a long period of time. So yeah, just some some
incredibly special memories there. But you know it's yeah, something
that you have for ever. But yeah, this weekend we're
(01:42):
looking forward to getting back into into a little bit
of sol GP racing and yeah, excited to try and
kick off the season strong.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
So some new faces in the Black Foils team. Leo
Takahashi has joined you as flight controller, replacing Andy Maloney.
He knows the F fifty pretty well of course, but
how much integration has that required having a new flight
controller on board.
Speaker 3 (02:02):
Yeah, it's definitely been a lot of hard work in
the background, just making sure that everyone's on the same page.
You kind of are all, I suppose used to the
language we speak on the boat, you know, what different
calls men, how we run our playbook. But yeah, to
be honest, there's only so much work you can do
on shore before you've got to get out there and
put it to test. And we're really excited today to
(02:24):
be getting out in the water and just trying to
I suppose to get the group to gel and operate
at the level now we can. So yeah, it's a
really exciting weekend to be able to, I suppose have
our first test this season and just looking forward to
getting out there and giving it are all and we
really want to get off to a good start this weekend.
But we know that you've got a lot to learn
(02:45):
and improve, and you know this is going to be
a long season and we really want to be just
stepping forward every event.
Speaker 2 (02:51):
What sense do you get from Leo about his level
of readiness and I guess as levels of excitement.
Speaker 3 (02:59):
Yeah, well it's I suppose for us, it's really cool
having a new person on the team. You know, I
think you know, any business, any group, you need a
certain amount of turnover to keep that energy, keep that excitement,
and you know that's definitely what he brings us, you know,
a really good level of energy and intensity to the group.
But you know, also he's got that that little bit
of experience in the flight controller position as well, you know,
(03:21):
having having sailed for Japan for for a long time,
you know, and then obviously but with the Americans last season,
so you know, he's he's really looking forward to to
having a full time gig in that role, and you're
really being able to cut his teeth and.
Speaker 2 (03:33):
Sam Meech on new addition to your coaching team. What
sort of ideas and fresh energy has he brought?
Speaker 3 (03:40):
Yeah, Sam, We've had a long history with Sam. Actually
you've done a lot of sailing against them over the years.
But yeah, it's just a really really good guy to
have involved, you know, bringing some fresh ideas and yeah,
I mean we've been so lucky with the coaching staff
we've had over the years to continue to push us forward,
and I'm sure Sam's going to sort them too that amazingly.
Speaker 2 (04:03):
How do you reflect on the last sole GP season?
You know, you lead the season standings, couldn't quite get
the job done in the season finale, But how do
you look back on twenty twenty four?
Speaker 3 (04:13):
Twenty twenty four for us was a little bit of
a roller coaster. Yeah, we got off to an amazing start,
you won the first event. Then yeah, probably had a
our low point of the season. My first low point
of the season, terrible event in La Broke, our willing
Misson event, and then we went on an absolute run
from there, you know, managing to get back to the
(04:34):
top leaderboard and I think if you look at that
points Sally we managed to get by the end of
the season, was you know, something we're incredibly proud of.
Obviously frustrated with the group not to be able to
put together one of our best races in that finaland
San Fran but yeah, I mean it's it's such small
margins when you put three three boats that are performing
at a really high level on the start line and
(04:55):
throw them around a toe minute race. You know, we
obviously had a bit much interaction with the Aussies, just
let the Spanish get over the top and it was
pretty hard to make a pass from there.
Speaker 2 (05:05):
So you start the new season, do buy you won
the final at the Dubai event last season from memory,
didn't win any of the five fleet racers, but obviously
won the final and Dubai. What did your learn last
season in Dubai that will be helpful as you open
this new season.
Speaker 3 (05:21):
Well, d buys a bit of a unique venue. We
actually sail right behind in a breakwater, so it's incredibly flat.
The water's relatively warm, so you can push the boats
really high in the right height. But yeah, it's really
a lot about getting off the start line consistently, making
sure you're in a reasonable position consistently at mark one,
and then not making any mistakes from there, continuing to
(05:42):
push forward in the race. You know, with it being
right at the bottom end of the wind liit's generally here.
It means that the one shadows, you know, the disturbance
and turbulence off the boats has a massive effect, so
you're making sure you position the boat really well around
the racetrack and make the most of the opportunity you're
(06:02):
given to you. And with one more boat on the
start line and that turbulent is going to be even worse,
so it's going to be interesting to see how much
more of a effect that has. But to be honest,
we just feel like we've got a really good plan
as to how to deal with it and looking forward
to going out and print into the test.
Speaker 2 (06:17):
Now and stop number two is back in Auckland, so
you will get the chance to get home obviously, and
then sail on home waters in Auckland this time how
much are you looking forward to your home event?
Speaker 3 (06:30):
Oh? I super excited to be racing back at home.
You think any saving event you're doing, the Zellen's always
a really special one. You're seeing how many Kiwis get
down there and cheer us on. It's obviously still relatively
close to Christmas, but I mean the support it's got
so far has been absolutely unreal. And you know, still
a couple of tickets for sale, so you know, for
(06:50):
those that haven't managed it to secure one yet, I
encourage them to to get on with it. And yeah,
it's going to be an absolutely amazing weekend. You know,
the seeing eleven sorry twelve now if fifty is bruising
around there in Auckland Harbor and such a small bit
of it is going to be going to be a
pretty cool spectacle and it'll be an amazing atmosphere. So
super excited.
Speaker 2 (07:11):
Yeah, you can't wait. Do you reckon your your season favorites?
Do you reckon your twenty twenty five sol GP favorites?
Speaker 3 (07:19):
I think we'd have to be one of the favorites. Yeah,
I think. You know, there's the good teams last season
that every run's back and reasonable shape, you know, some
of the new teams have got really strong lineups as well,
so you know the season will be all about who
puts their best foot forward. You know, it's a unique,
unique league. We've just got to put your best foot forward,
(07:40):
make sure you get through to the final and then
you're in really good shape from there. So you know,
looking forward to doing that. And you know, for us,
this weekends a lot about you making sure we execute
what we're trying to do out there, you know, trying
to be nice and consistent and you know, really give
ourselves a good, good platform to build from.
Speaker 2 (07:57):
Well, all the best and Duby Pete and for a
little bit of a break, I guess after that, did
you come home for Christmas? Can't wait to see you
in Auckland and January?
Speaker 3 (08:04):
Mate, awesome, thanks sense mate.
Speaker 2 (08:06):
Now thank you Peter. Peter Burling, that co CEO and
driver of the Black Foils team here. So January eighteen
and nineteen is when salgp hits Auckland. We were lucky
enough to do the show from christ Church earlier this
year when it was down there, and yeah, just sort
of putting the finishing touches on our broadcast which will
come to you live from sal GP in January, mid January.
(08:30):
It's going to roll around pretty quick, less than two
months away. But yeah, SALGP starts tonight in Dubai around
eleven o'clock New Zealand time. Leo Takahashi heard us talking
about him. Then the new flight controller are going to
have a chat to us in just a moment.
Speaker 1 (08:43):
But for more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine. Listen
live to news Talk zed B weekends from midday, or
follow the podcast on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the Weekend Sport Podcast with Jason Fine
from newstalksed B.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
The twenty twenty five Sale GP season kicks off and
du buy this weekend. Black Foil's co CEO and driver
Peter Burling is with us out of Dubai. Peter, thanks
for taking the time. It's only a month or so
since you retain the America's Cup off the coast of Barcelona.
How long were you able to celebrate and enjoy that
before switching your focus to sale GP again.
Speaker 3 (00:35):
Yeah, we had a know, an amazing celebration in Barcelona,
and yeah, what a special victory that was, you know
for me. Since end, it's actually been a little bit
of time off with the family. It's always incredible when
you get to the end of those events, just how
tired you actually are. So get minised to have a
little bit of time off in Barcelona and then do
(00:56):
a little bit of trip around with the family and
then yeah, looking forward to to getting home over and
actually made it home yet after that, So looking forward
to getting home after this weekend. And it's been able
to time and in deed over the summer all right.
Speaker 2 (01:09):
Just before we move on to sol GP how do
you reflect on your success off the coast of Barcelona?
You know, how do you how will you remember you know,
going back to back to back.
Speaker 3 (01:20):
I think it's just an amazing team effort to see
everything come together. It's, yeah, a culmination of so much
hard work with so many people, you know, over over
a long period of time. So yeah, just some some
incredibly special memories there. But you know it's yeah, something
that you have for ever. But yeah, this weekend we're
(01:42):
looking forward to getting back into into a little bit
of sol GP racing and yeah, excited to try and
kick off the season strong.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
So some new faces in the Black Foils team. Leo
Takahashi has joined you as flight controller, replacing Andy Maloney.
He knows the F fifty pretty well of course, but
how much integration has that required having a new flight
controller on board.
Speaker 3 (02:02):
Yeah, it's definitely been a lot of hard work in
the background, just making sure that everyone's on the same page.
You kind of are all, I suppose used to the
language we speak on the boat, you know, what different
calls men, how we run our playbook. But yeah, to
be honest, there's only so much work you can do
on shore before you've got to get out there and
put it to test. And we're really excited today to
(02:24):
be getting out in the water and just trying to
I suppose to get the group to gel and operate
at the level now we can. So yeah, it's a
really exciting weekend to be able to, I suppose have
our first test this season and just looking forward to
getting out there and giving it are all and we
really want to get off to a good start this weekend.
But we know that you've got a lot to learn
(02:45):
and improve, and you know this is going to be
a long season and we really want to be just
stepping forward every event.
Speaker 2 (02:51):
What sense do you get from Leo about his level
of readiness and I guess as levels of excitement.
Speaker 3 (02:59):
Yeah, well it's I suppose for us, it's really cool
having a new person on the team. You know, I
think you know, any business, any group, you need a
certain amount of turnover to keep that energy, keep that excitement,
and you know that's definitely what he brings us, you know,
a really good level of energy and intensity to the group.
But you know, also he's got that that little bit
of experience in the flight controller position as well, you know,
(03:21):
having having sailed for Japan for for a long time,
you know, and then obviously but with the Americans last season,
so you know, he's he's really looking forward to to
having a full time gig in that role, and you're
really being able to cut his teeth and.
Speaker 2 (03:33):
Sam Meech on new addition to your coaching team. What
sort of ideas and fresh energy has he brought?
Speaker 3 (03:40):
Yeah, Sam, We've had a long history with Sam. Actually
you've done a lot of sailing against them over the years.
But yeah, it's just a really really good guy to
have involved, you know, bringing some fresh ideas and yeah,
I mean we've been so lucky with the coaching staff
we've had over the years to continue to push us forward,
and I'm sure Sam's going to sort them too that amazingly.
Speaker 2 (04:03):
How do you reflect on the last sole GP season?
You know, you lead the season standings, couldn't quite get
the job done in the season finale, But how do
you look back on twenty twenty four?
Speaker 3 (04:13):
Twenty twenty four for us was a little bit of
a roller coaster. Yeah, we got off to an amazing start,
you won the first event. Then yeah, probably had a
our low point of the season. My first low point
of the season, terrible event in La Broke, our willing
Misson event, and then we went on an absolute run
from there, you know, managing to get back to the
(04:34):
top leaderboard and I think if you look at that
points Sally we managed to get by the end of
the season, was you know, something we're incredibly proud of.
Obviously frustrated with the group not to be able to
put together one of our best races in that finaland
San Fran but yeah, I mean it's it's such small
margins when you put three three boats that are performing
at a really high level on the start line and
(04:55):
throw them around a toe minute race. You know, we
obviously had a bit much interaction with the Aussies, just
let the Spanish get over the top and it was
pretty hard to make a pass from there.
Speaker 2 (05:05):
So you start the new season, do buy you won
the final at the Dubai event last season from memory,
didn't win any of the five fleet racers, but obviously
won the final and Dubai. What did your learn last
season in Dubai that will be helpful as you open
this new season.
Speaker 3 (05:21):
Well, d buys a bit of a unique venue. We
actually sail right behind in a breakwater, so it's incredibly flat.
The water's relatively warm, so you can push the boats
really high in the right height. But yeah, it's really
a lot about getting off the start line consistently, making
sure you're in a reasonable position consistently at mark one,
and then not making any mistakes from there, continuing to
(05:42):
push forward in the race. You know, with it being
right at the bottom end of the wind liit's generally here.
It means that the one shadows, you know, the disturbance
and turbulence off the boats has a massive effect, so
you're making sure you position the boat really well around
the racetrack and make the most of the opportunity you're
(06:02):
given to you. And with one more boat on the
start line and that turbulent is going to be even worse,
so it's going to be interesting to see how much
more of a effect that has. But to be honest,
we just feel like we've got a really good plan
as to how to deal with it and looking forward
to going out and print into the test.
Speaker 2 (06:17):
Now and stop number two is back in Auckland, so
you will get the chance to get home obviously, and
then sail on home waters in Auckland this time how
much are you looking forward to your home event?
Speaker 3 (06:30):
Oh? I super excited to be racing back at home.
You think any saving event you're doing, the Zellen's always
a really special one. You're seeing how many Kiwis get
down there and cheer us on. It's obviously still relatively
close to Christmas, but I mean the support it's got
so far has been absolutely unreal. And you know, still
a couple of tickets for sale, so you know, for
(06:50):
those that haven't managed it to secure one yet, I
encourage them to to get on with it. And yeah,
it's going to be an absolutely amazing weekend. You know,
the seeing eleven sorry twelve now if fifty is bruising
around there in Auckland Harbor and such a small bit
of it is going to be going to be a
pretty cool spectacle and it'll be an amazing atmosphere. So
super excited.
Speaker 2 (07:11):
Yeah, you can't wait. Do you reckon your your season favorites?
Do you reckon your twenty twenty five sol GP favorites?
Speaker 3 (07:19):
I think we'd have to be one of the favorites. Yeah,
I think. You know, there's the good teams last season
that every run's back and reasonable shape, you know, some
of the new teams have got really strong lineups as well,
so you know the season will be all about who
puts their best foot forward. You know, it's a unique,
unique league. We've just got to put your best foot forward,
(07:40):
make sure you get through to the final and then
you're in really good shape from there. So you know,
looking forward to doing that. And you know, for us,
this weekends a lot about you making sure we execute
what we're trying to do out there, you know, trying
to be nice and consistent and you know, really give
ourselves a good, good platform to build from.
Speaker 2 (07:57):
Well, all the best and Duby Pete and for a
little bit of a break, I guess after that, did
you come home for Christmas? Can't wait to see you
in Auckland and January?
Speaker 3 (08:04):
Mate, awesome, thanks sense mate.
Speaker 2 (08:06):
Now thank you Peter. Peter Burling, that co CEO and
driver of the Black Foils team here. So January eighteen
and nineteen is when salgp hits Auckland. We were lucky
enough to do the show from christ Church earlier this
year when it was down there, and yeah, just sort
of putting the finishing touches on our broadcast which will
come to you live from sal GP in January, mid January.
(08:30):
It's going to roll around pretty quick, less than two
months away. But yeah, SALGP starts tonight in Dubai around
eleven o'clock New Zealand time. Leo Takahashi heard us talking
about him. Then the new flight controller are going to
have a chat to us in just a moment.
Speaker 1 (08:43):
But for more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine. Listen
live to news Talk zed B weekends from midday, or
follow the podcast on iHeartRadio
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