Ever wondered how it would feel as an athlete in those critically tense moments right before the start of a race? Or what it takes to battle high winds and unpredictable waves out on the water? Well, we were definitely curious. Attending the exhilarating SailGP event that unfolded in Portsmouth this July, our team caught up with Black Foils athletes Peter Burling and Stewart Dodson for some insights into the thrilling world of high-speed foiling.
What is hydrofoil catamaran racing?
To better understand the full scope of their abilities, here’s a little refresher on what the extreme sailing sport actually entails. Like handling fighter jets on water, teams of six manoeuvre
twin-hulled boats with carbon-fibre foils under the water, which allows them to lift the hulls into the air completely, minimising drag and achieving top speeds of over 60mph. Factor in wind speed, wave dynamics and thirteen national teams jostling for a spot and you’ve got a high-adrenaline, high-stakes sport.
Before the race
Unsurprisingly, the moments before the race are some of the most pivotal as athletes tend to find their focus, get in the zone and cut out the unnecessary noise in a high-pressure environment. Though, surprisingly, Black Foils co-CEO and driver Peter Burling finds himself pretty relaxed 10 minutes before – it’s when it hits the two-minute mark that things start “ramping up a little bit where you begin to jostle for position”. Makes sense when you learn that initial position is a key part of their race, as, in the words of Burling, “if you can lead at Mark 1 it makes life significantly easier”.
Teamwork does make the dream work
New grinder Stewart Dodson, fresh off his first race day with the team, credits the positive team dynamic and organisation. It all seemingly comes down to communication. With howling winds and rushing waves to contend with, the six-person teams use a comms system that is integrated into the helmet, allowing them to communicate among the chaos and navigate a cramped
cockpit. As Burling mentions, without being able to hear the plan and coordinate clearly, “it would be tough out there”.
What makes a good SailGP athlete?
In short, accuracy and adaptability. As Burling puts it, these are “incredibly unstable boats, so you’ve really got to be super accurate and right where you want to be to make it go at 100 per cent”, and that it will “feel like you have more time if you are sailing the boat well” – which definitely sounds like words to live by (and not just in the world of sailing). Elsewhere, Dodson credits a flexibility with change as a key trait; with travel, challenging competitors and the ever-changing conditions to consider, he says it’s important to “keep adapting and take everything on”.
In the heat of the race
It all comes down to how these athletes fare in the thick of the action, whether it’s battling the jagged spray of the water as they carve through waves at breakneck speeds, coordinating with fellow team members with split-second decision-making and juggling the wild whims of nature. Where most might crumble under the pressure, these athletes seem to thrive. Enviably, Burling harnesses his relaxed Kiwi nature to tackle the situation at hand, sharing that, “It takes a fair bit to wind me up… that holds you in really good stead in this kind of environment where you have to really be on it to win.”
The crowds
Of course, you can’t have a championship race without the fans to cheer you on. With over 20,000 people attending over the course of Portsmouth’s SailGP weekend, there was plenty of roaring from the grandstands to energise the athletes. Burling highlighted the good vibes from the crowds, “It’s so good to see 10,000-plus people sitting in the grandstand cheering us on, and you can really feel that energy out there on the racetrack.”
Dodson was also thankful for the positive spirit from the public, particularly as “being part of the Commonwealth, there’s obviously a little bit of support towards New Zealand from the locals, so that’s awesome.” Clearly, it’s not just the athletes that have a pivotal part to play to achieve success on race day – so do the fans.
