Sawt Falasteen - Kiwi sailing legend Burling joins Italy's America's Cup team

The 34-year-old New Zealander's "exact role has yet to be defined" for the Italian team as they prepare for the 2027 edition of the quadrennial yachting showpiece in Naples.

There are obstacles to Burling -- who skippered New Zealand to victory over Luna Rossa in 2021 -- being on the boat itself.

Under the provisional protocols for the 2027 regatta, as set out by the champions in May, no sailor can compete if they were part of a different team in the previous one.

Burling, who was pivotal to New Zealand's three successive wins (2017/21/24) skippering them in the last two, became a free agent in April when he was unable to reach an agreement with Team New Zealand.

"I've always loved racing against Luna Rossa and now to join this iconic team is a real honour," he said in a statement on the Luna Rossa website.

"The innovation and competitiveness they bring to the Cup has always inspired me.

"I'm looking forward to working hard alongside a world-class team, doing my part to help win Luna Rossa's first America's Cup."

Max Sirena, CEO of Luna Rossa, said he and the team were "thrilled" to have secured his services.

"Peter has been a long-time rival, and over the years we've come to deeply respect both his exceptional sailing talent and his sportsmanship on the racecourse," said Sirena.

"Even though his exact role has yet to be defined, he will certainly be part of the sailing team, reinforcing Luna Rossa's core leadership group and contributing to key areas of our development program."

Burling's split from Team New Zealand came, the latter said in April, because of the changing shape of the contest which is now to be contested in more regular cycles, meaning different requirements from team members.

The three-time Olympic medallist's America's Cup record is astonishing.

Burling was just 26 when he became the youngest-ever helmsman to win the America's Cup as challengers New Zealand beat Oracle Team USA 7-1 in Bermuda.

In the 2021 victory over Luna Rossa, he became, at 30, the youngest skipper to win the event.

He followed that up by skippering them to a 7-2 win over Ben Ainslie's British challengers, INEOS Britannia in Barcelona last year.

Z.AlNajjar--SF-PST