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Image: Peter Burling (right) pictured with 49er partner Blair Tuke
Peter Burling’s Olympic silver medal has opened the door to an exciting opportunity to helm Team Korea’s AC45 for the coming round of the America’s Cup World Series set to start in San Francisco on October 2nd.
In 2008, at 17 years old, Burling became the youngest sailor to represent New Zealand at the Olympic Games, now 21 the Tauranga prodigy is set to become the youngest skipper competing in the Americas Cup World Series.
“Yachting New Zealand is delighted that Peter has this opening into the America’s Cup domain; it’s a terrific opportunity for him and well deserved given the commitment and dedication he has always given to sailing,” says David Abercrombie, Yachting New Zealand Chief Executive.
Peter Burling hit the record books as the youngest ever sailor to represent New Zealand at the Olympic Games when in 2008 in China he sailed in the Men’s 470 class together with Carl Evans.
Jez Fanstone, Olympic Programme Manager explains that Peter’s achievement is inspiration for any junior sailor to give Olympic class sailing a go: - “It shows young sailors just where Olympic sailing can lead you, and proves youth and Olympic classes are a great training ground for those aspiring to the professional sailing ranks,” says Fanstone.
“For Peter, this is a great chance to try something else and it’s a great reward following on from his silver medal. He’s been Olympic campaigning for six years now, and during that time he’s gained the skills, and attracted the attention to put him in this exciting position.”
Moving into the 49er skiff, and pairing with Blair Tuke, he campaigned towards London 2012 Burling capturing attention on the Olympic class circuit with back to back silver 49er World Championships medals in 2011 and 2012 and multiple podium finishes at ISAF Sailing World Cup Regattas. He and Tuke went on to collect the 49er Olympic Silver Medal in August 2012.
Burling will helm the Team Korea AC45 with four crew on board including Troy Tindill, Matt Cornwall, Giles Scott and Andy McLean (standing in for Mark Bulkeley). Tindill is also a New Zealander (member of both RNZYS and Bucklands Beach YC) who has been sailing with the AC 45 program from the launching of the first AC45 originally run by ACRM and since has been Wing Trimmer on Team Korea’s AC45.
About the America’s Cup World Series (americascup.com)
The America’s Cup World Series is a professional circuit that brings America’s Cup-level racing and the America’s Cup experience to top international venues. It is an extreme experience – cutting edge wing-sailed catamarans flying at speeds over 30 miles per hour, and a mix of fleet and match racing to test the abilities of the best sailing teams in the world.
There are two seasons of the AC World Series – the 2011-12 AC World Series concludes on July 1, 2012 in Newport, Rhode Island, and the 2012-13 AC World Series stops in San Francisco, Venice and Naples, concluding in May 2013 – prior to the beginning of the 34th America’s Cup events in San Francisco in July 2013. At the end of the each AC World Series circuit, a series champion is crowned based on their cumulative scores from each event.
