“It was definitely very serious so I’m really glad she’s okay and, from what I understand, her recovery journey is going well. Obviously she needs some more time, so I feel really grateful for the opportunity to step in for her for this event.
“I’ve spent some time with her over the past few weeks to learn how the dynamic is for her in this team and really try to do a good job for her.”
It sees the Kiwis and French join forces in multiple facets on the water, after salvageable parts of the Black Foils’ boat were used to rebuild France’s F50 foiling catamaran. With the league officials judging France were not the team at fault in the Auckland crash, they were given priority in the rebuilding process.
The remaining parts of the Black Foils boat are currently in transit to the SailGP Technologies base in Southampton, but the New Zealand team are expected to get an entirely new boat for their return to the water.
France and the Black Foils collided during SailGP’s Auckland regatta in February. Both boats were badly damaged. Photo / SailGP
There remains no clear timeline on when that will be, however members of the Black Foils shore crew will travel to England later this month to work with the team at SailGP Technologies on the delivery of the team’s new F50.
“I’m really grateful for the opportunity. It’s my first time in Rio and I’m really looking forward to getting back on the water. It’s a bit of a different circumstance than I was expecting, but I think it’s a really positive step forward for everyone, so I’m looking forward to the weekend,” Mackay said.
“Since the crash, I’ve spent quite a lot of time talking with different people through support from our team and the league so I feel really positive about the weekend, really excited to get back on the water, and I think it’s a really important period of time to just get back out there. I feel ready.”
Mackay won’t be the only new face on board this weekend for the French, with Australian super-sub and former Team New Zealand America’s Cup skipper Glenn Ashby stepping in as wing trimmer.
Ashby filled the role for the Australians in the first two events after Iain Jensen suffered a knee injury, and now joins the French as a replacement for Leigh McMillan, who required surgery on his shoulder.
McMillan also suffered his injury in the Auckland crash, but it wasn’t until weeks later that it was confirmed he would be sidelined by the damage.
Christopher Reive joined the Herald sports team in 2017, bringing the same versatility to his coverage as he does to his sports viewing habits.