Black Foils Sign Sailor Jake Pye
The 21-year-old is training with the team at SailGP's Pensacola base this week ahead of the 2027 season.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Youth
Black Foils have signed 21-year-old sailor Jake Pye, who is training with the team at SailGP's Pensacola base for one week. Pye, a member of Emirates Team New Zealand's sailing team since October 2025, previously won silver at the 2024 Moth World Championship and bronze plus the youth world title in 2025.
Why it matters
Pye's signing adds a young, decorated Moth sailor to the Black Foils roster as the team builds toward the 2027 season. The move reflects a pathway for emerging youth talent into professional SailGP competition.
Pye is 21 years old and is training with the Black Foils for one week at SailGP's Pensacola base, which hosts a shared training F50 with technical and on-water support. The source does not disclose contract terms or whether he will race in the upcoming Dubai and Abu Dhabi events.
The players
Black Foils
The Black Foils are a SailGP team competing in the international league's racing series, using foiling catamarans.
Jake Pye
Jake Pye is a 21-year-old New Zealand sailor who has excelled in the Moth class, winning multiple world championship medals.
The details
Black Foils announced Pye's signing on November 6, 2026, and he began training at the team's Pensacola base. Pye was the youngest skipper at the America's Cup preliminary regatta in Naples, where he led the Women & Youth AC40 crew to the category title.
Timeline
October 2025: Pye joined Emirates Team New Zealand's sailing team.
2025: Pye won bronze and the youth world title at the Moth World Championship.
November 6, 2026: Black Foils announced Pye's signing and he began training in Pensacola.
November 21-22, 2026: Black Foils return to racing at the Dubai Sail Grand Prix.
November 28-29, 2026: Black Foils compete in the Abu Dhabi Sail Grand Prix 2026 Season Grand Final.
Youth Pathway
Pye's rise follows the route Peter Burling took when he won the Moth world title in 2015 before reaching elite foiling competition. His progression from Moth championships to SailGP training shows how the Moth class continues to feed young talent into the sport's top ranks.
Fans following SailGP can watch Pye's development as he trains with the Black Foils and prepares for upcoming races. Aspiring young sailors can see a clear route from Moth championships to professional foiling teams.
The takeaway
Pye's path shows that youth world titles can open doors to elite professional sailing. Young athletes pursuing similar goals can track how Moth success translates into SailGP opportunities.
What happens next
Black Foils return to racing at the Dubai Sail Grand Prix on November 21-22, 2026, and compete in the Abu Dhabi Season Grand Final on November 28-29, 2026.
Further reading
For more on young athletes building careers in competitive sport, explore Youth.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Sail-world.
