New Zealand's Black Foils have a quiet confidence as they head into the SailGP season finale. Peter Burling has declared that his team is exactly where he wants them to be, as the championship showdown in Abu Dhabi looms.

The Kiwis are heading to the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Sail Grand Prix Season Grand Final after a roller coaster of a campaign which saw them win two events and have consistently performed well in fleet racing. They now have the training time they've been craving all year:

Burling stated, "We are super excited... It's been an amazing season for us." "We've had our ups anddowns, but...we feel like we are in a good position heading into the final."

Light winds and technical racing may prove to be decisive in Abu Dhabi, the notoriously difficult waters. SailGP will debut its new 27.5-metre SailGP wing at the Grand Final.

Burling stated, "I am really looking forward to seeing how these boats perform." It's a new configuration. It's all about who can adapt the fastest and nail it."

New Zealand is focusing on youth development and stability while other teams are preparing for major roster changes in the new Athlete Transfer Era.

Burling confirmed that the team will keep the same lineup this year, despite the addition of Leo Takahashi, a young Kiwi sailer.

SailGP is an international sailing league in which teams from around the world race high-tech F50 catamarans with foils that can reach speeds of over 50 knots. This creates high-speed competitions determined by data analytics and precision as well as seamanship.

The series, backed by Oracle billionaire Larry Ellison runs several grands prix in major coastal cities each season. Cumulative points determine the finalists, who compete for a winner-takes all prize at the season's end.

The season finale will take place in Abu Dhabi on November 29-30. The SailGP leaderboard has Britain on 85 points ahead of New Zealand Black Foils and Australia Flying Roos. (Reporting and editing by Ed Osmond, Ossian shine)

(source: Reuters)