The Peter Burling’s Kiwi team put in a consistent fleet racing performance to qualify for the Final at the top of the leaderboard alongside Emirates GBR and the United States. Despite multiple lead changes and shifty wind conditions, the Kiwis overtook the Americans and British to cross the line first and take the win.
Reflecting on the final race, Burling said the team ‘pulled out our last sail at the end’ after executing ‘a great start’ to lead at Mark 1.
However Burling said he made ‘a bad choice’ by choosing to take the right side of the course which ‘made it a bit more complicated’ and resulted in conceding the lead to Emirates GBR.
“It put us right back in the pack, but we just kept our heels clean and sailed a good race from there to take the win.”
Burling said the win came despite limited pre-race training time and a new flight controller; Leo Takahashi replaced long-time crew member Andy Maloney after his transfer to Mubadala Brazil in the off-season.
“We probably only got 10 minutes foiling before the first race, so to come together as a group with a new flight controller is really pleasing.”
The win in Dubai marked the third consecutive victory for the Kiwis in Middle Eastern venues, with the team winning both Dubai and Abu Dhabi in Season 4. Looking ahead to the 2025 Season Grand Final, which will take place in Abu Dhabi for the first time, Burling was optimistic about the team’s chances.
“We seem to love these Middle Eastern events – that’s three on the trot for us now in this part of the world, so I’m definitely excited by that Grand Final being in a different spot and making sure we can take a win in Abu Dhabi.”
Looking ahead to the rest of the season, Burling said he was ‘super excited’ to return to New Zealand for the league’s upcoming Auckland debut on January 18-19, 2025.
“The buzz in town is already growing, the renderings of the Grand Stand, which is about to get built, are amazing (…) and it’s going to be an absolutely amazing weekend.”
by Miranda Blazeby – SailGP
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