Sailing: Canada's Kiwi skipper Phil Robertson out to spoil homecoming party again at SailGP Christchurch

It's not just the black boat chasing a "home" win at the New Zealand round of SailGP this weekend.

Last year, Kiwi Phil Robertson stole the show, when he drove his Canadian team to victory on Lyttelton Harbour.

Robertson is back in the country for the first time since the famous win and his sights set on a repeat effort this weekend. 

But defending his title isn't the only reason to come home.  

"It's pretty hard to compete with New Zealand coffee around the world," Robertson told Newshub. 

As it turns out, that rule applies to most beverages – including the alcoholic variety.

"I definitely like the local craft breweries and get into it... but I still love a Speights," he joked.

Come Sunday he'll be hoping those beers will be celebratory. Last year, he helped Canada achieve their only event win to date, spoiling the party for local hero Peter Burling and the NZ boat.

"That was up there," he reflected. "That was massive."

But not everything about being home is bright and sunny.  

"It's cold here," he noted. "But the colder air brings a denser air, so you go faster.   

The ever comical Robertson had his own way of describing windy conditions at the last event in Sydney.

"You've got to bring your brown undies and buckle up because it's going to be a wild ride," he said.

Robertson confirms those brown undies have been included in his luggage this weekend.

"I packed my brown undies but hopefully I won't need them, because I love the speed."

That should be music to the ears of a record 22,0000 spectators who will make this weekend the world's largest ever ticketed sailing event.  

"An event like this here in Christchurch - I'm really hoping it inspires the local kids down here to get into it because it's a wicked sport and there's so many opportunities around the world," he said.

If Robertson can go back-to-back for Canada, there would be no better example set.

It's not just the black boat chasing a "home" win at the New Zealand round of SailGP this weekend.

Last year, Kiwi Phil Robertson stole the show, when he drove his Canadian team to victory on Lyttelton Harbour.

Robertson is back in the country for the first time since the famous win and his sights set on a repeat effort this weekend. 

But defending his title isn't the only reason to come home.  

"It's pretty hard to compete with New Zealand coffee around the world," Robertson told Newshub. 

As it turns out, that rule applies to most beverages – including the alcoholic variety.

"I definitely like the local craft breweries and get into it... but I still love a Speights," he joked.

Come Sunday he'll be hoping those beers will be celebratory. Last year, he helped Canada achieve their only event win to date, spoiling the party for local hero Peter Burling and the NZ boat.

"That was up there," he reflected. "That was massive."

But not everything about being home is bright and sunny.  

"It's cold here," he noted. "But the colder air brings a denser air, so you go faster.   

The ever comical Robertson had his own way of describing windy conditions at the last event in Sydney.

"You've got to bring your brown undies and buckle up because it's going to be a wild ride," he said.

Robertson confirms those brown undies have been included in his luggage this weekend.

"I packed my brown undies but hopefully I won't need them, because I love the speed."

That should be music to the ears of a record 22,0000 spectators who will make this weekend the world's largest ever ticketed sailing event.  

"An event like this here in Christchurch - I'm really hoping it inspires the local kids down here to get into it because it's a wicked sport and there's so many opportunities around the world," he said.

If Robertson can go back-to-back for Canada, there would be no better example set.

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