SailGP: Blair Tuke backs Olympic sailing pathway as popularity of F50 catamaran event surges

Yachting New Zealand's Olympic sailing programme remains a vital development pathway for the sport, despite the rapid rise and global popularity of SailGP, according to Black Foils co-CEO and Olympic champion Blair Tuke.

Speaking on Newstalk ZB, Tuke said the glitz and spectacle of SailGP had not diminished the importance of Olympic classes, which continue to underpin New Zealand's success at the highest level. He highlighted the depth of talent coming through the Yachting New Zealand high-performance programme, particularly in the 49er, a class in which New Zealand has enjoyed near-unmatched success.

Tuke, alongside long-time crewmate Peter Burling, won three Olympic medals in the 49er - gold at Rio 2016 and silver at London 2012 and Tokyo 2020. The pair are now co-CEOs of the Black Foils SailGP team and have been central figures in the America’s Cup for much of the past decade.

The Black Foils' 2026 SailGP season began on a sour note in Perth at the weekend, when the team was forced out of the regatta after a collision with Switzerland left their F50 catamaran badly damaged. The incident resulted in a three-point penalty for the New Zealand team.

"It certainly wasn't a good moment for us in Perth," Tuke told the Mike Hosking Breakfast. "[It was] one of the bigger incidents I've been involved with and really unfortunate. The umpires deemed us to be in the wrong, but outside of the racing rules, there's an obligation on all boats to keep clear, and the move by the Swiss was quite dangerous in my opinion. It was frustrating to be ruled out for the weekend."

Despite the setback, Tuke acknowledged the extraordinary growth of SailGP since its launch in 2019 by Russell Coutts and Oracle founder Larry Ellison. What began as a new and untested sporting property has quickly evolved into a global entertainment product, with events regularly drawing live audiences of over 20 million dedicated television viewers.

"SailGP was never really about converting sailing fans," Tuke said. "It's about attracting racing fans from other sports. It's still sailing, but it hadn't been seen before, and it was built with fan engagement at the centre from the outset. These are big machines that capture people's imagination, and there's action aplenty."

New Zealand's strong sailing culture has helped fuel success across multiple fronts, from SailGP and the America's Cup to Olympic campaigns.

"We’re lucky in New Zealand that we have a big foundation of sailing support," Tuke said. "The 49er will always have a special place in my heart. It was such a big part of Pete's and my career, and it's what led us to everything that followed, whether that's the America’s Cup or the Black Foils. No one can ever take away leading the country into Maracanã Stadium in Rio or winning that gold medal."

Tuke remains confident about the next wave of Olympic sailors, with Isaac McHardie and Will McKenzie, and Micah Wilkinson and Erica Dawson adding silver and bronze, respectively, to New Zealand's sailing medal tally at Paris 2024.

“There are a lot of young guys and girls coming through Olympic sailing in New Zealand," he said. "They're sailing these boats now, and they've got bright futures ahead of them. Olympic sailing is definitely still a pathway."

Click here to listen to the full interview.