Black Foils look to next generation with new SailGP signing

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Author: Christopher Reive,
Publish Date: Mon, 17 Aug 2026, 10:13am

The Black Foils are starting to look at the future.

Now in their fifth season competing in SailGP, the New Zealand crew have had a largely unchanged line-up since their inception.

While they have had some temporary replacements to cover for Olympic commitments in the past, the core of Peter Burling, Blair Tuke, Liv Mackay, Marcus Hansen and Louis Sinclair have been involved from the beginning.

Now, they’re casting their gaze forward.

“As a team, we’re starting to look towards that next generation and how we start building depth in all the roles,” co-chief executive and wing trimmer Blair Tuke said.

That process is starting in the strategist role, with the Black Foils signing 27-year-old Nacra 17 sailor and Olympic hopeful Kate Stewart as a reserve. She will join the team for the regatta in Sassnitz, Germany, this week.

Stewart had a strong youth career on the water before stepping away from sailing to focus on her studies.

Now with an optometry degree in her back pocket, she has returned to the sport – teaming up with Olympic bronze medalist Micah Wilkinson in the foiling catamaran Nacra 17 class for the new Games cycle.

Speaking about returning to the sport, Stewart said there were more pathways for women now than when she stepped away to study.

“When I left the Olympic pathway, there wasn’t a long-term pathway for women like the one we have now.

“Finishing my degree and seeing the fantastic roles and opportunities available to women today drew me back in.”

It was before the 49er, 49erFX and Nacra World Championships in Quiberon, France, in May that Black Foils coach Matt Steven, who also coaches the 49er teams, sounded her out about joining the Black Foils.

As a development sailor, Stewart will spend her time learning the role - currently carried out by Mackay – then helping out in the coaching booth during racing.

Stewart told the Herald there were a number of things she had to tick off before she was able to race on the F50 but was looking forward to going through that process.

“There are full licensing and safety requirements before I can step on board. So far, I’ve passed my knowledge and theory exam, and I need to complete the safety training and full medical clearance in Sassnitz, and then some simulator time and a simulator scenario before they might let me jump on board,” she said.

Stewart was also confident in how working in SailGP would complement her Nacra campaign, with both competitions being sailed on foiling catamarans.

“Obviously, one is a little larger and more complex than the other one, but I think the physics and foil interactions, rudder rakes, as well as all the racing scenarios and tactics are very, very applicable.

“I’m also really excited for the coach booth element to learn more about the data processing and the tech side from the boats. So, I think they truly are going to be beneficial for each other.”

Christopher Reive joined the Herald sports team in 2017, bringing the same versatility to his coverage as he does to his sports viewing habits.