Team NZ will Need To Move Quickly On Any Chequebook War For Peter Burling
Peter Burlings stunning Americas Cup debut wont be lost on rivals as they eye the next cycle of yachtings biggest event.
Win or lose the Americas Cup, Peter Burling has established himself as the hottest property in world sailing and a key commodity Team New Zealand must retain.
The 26-year-olds ability to transfer his immense talent from the golden glow of the Rio Olympics into the white-hot scene in Bermuda has amazed even the most successful names in the Cup game.
Burling is in his prime and looks set for a long Cup career.
Fiercely nationalistic, it is expected the humble Burling will continue with Emirates Team New Zealand, especially if they can push on from 3-0 against Oracle Team USA in Bermuda and return the old mug to Auckland.
Skipper Glenn Ashby gives a shaka as Emirates Team New Zealand cross the finish line for one of their comfortable early wins in the Americas Cup match against Oracle Team USA. A home defence would appear irresistible.
But there will undoubtedly be big offers in a game where chequebooks dominate.
The touted return to the Cup scene by Swiss billionaire Ernesto Bertarelli, the man who lured Russell Coutts and key Team New Zealand crew away following the successful 2000 defence in Auckland, should have some alarm bells ringing.
And what will Oracles Larry Ellison do if he loses the Cup? A ruthless operator, it wouldnt surprise to see the aging Jimmy Spiithill spat out, if Ellison wants to stay in the game.
Coutts, the most successful Americas Cup skipper, believes Burling has already surpassed himself and Spithill in terms of sheer talent. In an interview with German magazine Yacht, brushed off comparisons between himself and Burling.
Oh man, I would feel honoured if that were the case! Peter Burling is certainly an incredible talent, Coutts said.
He has now also proved this under pressure. We all wondered if he could prove his class at the Americas Cup. And lets be honest: he has surpassed Jimmy Spithill this time.
He is simply an incredible talent and it looks as though he has mastered the technical side of the sport. He can jump into a moth and become world champion. He can jump into a 49 and win gold.
He can clearly jump into everything and win. This is the quality of a real champion in the style of Paul Elvström or people of his calibre.
The guy is so talented that he could probably sail in different positions and always be outstanding. He is certainly the future star of our sport.
Team New Zealand will certainly have to up the ante to keep Burling who they signed as a rookie in late 2013.
Team New Zealand wages have remained a closely guarded secret over the years but chief executive Grant Dalton has already admitted everybody is on reduced salaries in the current Cup cycle after all the financial uncertainties of getting to the start line in Bermuda following the fallout from the gutting loss four years ago.
An unspecified multimillion-dollar payout from Americas Cup bosses over the loss of a buildup regatta in New Zealand has belatedly helped fill the coffers while a win in Bermuda and a return to Auckland would certainly help Daltons never-ending drive for future sponsorship.
But in a ruthless game, the wolves will be circling. The Kiwi design team who have shown incredible innovation, will be vulnerable along with the sailing crew.
Returning the Cup down under is expected to bring Australia back into the frame and that will place pressure and temptations on Team New Zealands outstanding Aussie skipper Glenn Ashby who has already worked with Oracle.
An Australian syndicate and also the prospect of increased nationality rules, would likely strip Oracle of the bulk of their team. Team New Zealands cleanout from San Francisco has produced a fresh-faced crew of fearless young talent they will want to retain.
Burling, who sailed a one-off Americas Cup world series regatta for Korea in late 2012, remains part of Yachting New Zealands high-performance team with an eye on his fourth Olympics at Tokyo 2020.
He has a silver medal from London and a gold from Rio in the 49er skiff class.
His regular sailing partner Blair Tuke and Olympic Finn sailor Josh Junior are others in the Team New Zealand crew who are also still in the mix for Tokyo.
Burlings bonus to any team is his engineering skills and his ability to transfer feel and performance off the boat and into the design room in the constant search for speed and improvements.
The professional game at the Cup level is a regular roundabout and Kiwi expertise is top of the shopping list in key departments.
New syndicate Team Japan were quick to scoop up several of Team New Zealands unsigned talent, headed by Dean Barker and former design boss Nick Holroyd.
When Luna Rossa dropped out of this Cup race early, the Japanese also swooped on their British helmsman Chris Draper to come and work their wingsail.
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