New Zealand's Black Foils have signed 21-year-old rising sailing talent Jake Pye, strengthening their squad as the SailGP team prepares for the 2027 season. Pye is training with the team at SailGP's Pensacola base in Florida this week, gaining valuable experience aboard the high-performance F50 foiling catamaran.
Pye said, “I’ve wanted to get into SailGP for a long time, and the Black Foils are the team I want to do it with. I love what the team stands for and the opportunity to represent New Zealand on the world stage.
“Getting this opportunity means a huge amount. I believe in what we can achieve, and I want to earn my place on the boat, keep pushing myself to improve and help the team compete at the front.”
Moth World Championship Success
Racing against Olympic champions and SailGP athletes, Pye won silver at the 2024 Moth World Championship at his home club, Manly, before taking bronze and the youth world title in 2025. His new Black Foils teammate Peter Burling won the Moth World Championship in 2015.
Black Foils Co-CEO Blair Tuke said, “Jake’s a hugely talented young athlete, and we’re excited to have him joining the Black Foils. We see the potential for him to become a world-class F50 sailor and play an important part in the team’s future.
“As SailGP grows, investing in New Zealand talent is a real priority for us. With Kate Stewart joining earlier this year and Jake now part of the group, we’re building the depth and continuity we need to compete at the highest level. Having an all-Kiwi sailing crew is something we’re proud of, and we want the next generation to see a future with the Black Foils.”
Pye is also a member of Emirates Team New Zealand's sailing team, which he joined in October 2025. Less than a year later, he was the youngest skipper at the America's Cup preliminary regatta in Naples, leading its Women & Youth AC40 crew to the category title.
Pensacola Training Ahead of 2027
The training camp is based at the American Magic High Performance Centre, home to SailGP's new permanent training base in Pensacola. A shared training F50, technical specialists and on-water and shore support give the team a dedicated training setup as it builds towards the 2027 season.
Team Building: Black Foils sailors head out for training at SailGP's Pensacola base in Florida as the New Zealand squad strengthens its preparations for the 2027 season. Photo: Black Foils
The group in Pensacola includes Peter Burling, Blair Tuke, Liv Mackay, Leo Takahashi, Marcus Hansen, Stewart Dodson and Kate Stewart alongside Jake Pye, with coaches Matt Steven and William McKenzie.
Black Foils Co-CEO Peter Burling said, “We don’t often get this much dedicated time together. The facilities here are great, and having Jake with us means we can start working together on the water as we build towards 2027. We can focus on our sailing away from the pressure of a race weekend, help him settle into the team and spend time together off the water.
“Dubai and Abu Dhabi give us a chance to build on the work we do here and keep developing as a team. We want to finish the year strongly and carry that progress into 2027.”
The Black Foils return to racing at the Emirates Dubai Sail Grand Prix presented by DP World on 21–22 November, followed by the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Sail Grand Prix 2026 Season Grand Final presented by Abu Dhabi Sports Council on 28–29 November.
