New Zealands Youth Americas Cup sailors named

The group of talented young sailors selected to represent New Zealand and have the opportunity to be crowned Youth America's Cup Champions at the inaugural Red Bull Youth America's Cup in San Francisco this September has been confirmed.

The support of Emirates Team New Zealand provides this entry to the 2013 Red Bull Youth America's Cup, submitted by Yachting New Zealand, automatic entry to the September regatta, and the team will be known as the NZL Sailing Team with Emirates Team New Zealand.

Six sailors will race the AC45 during the Red Bull Youth America's Cup Regatta, but the NZL Sailing Team with Emirates Team New Zealand has named seven sailors including a reserve. The seven sailors are:

Peter Burling – Skipper
Blair Tuke – Tactician
Andy Maloney
Jono Spurdle
Jason Saunders
Guy Endean
Sam Meech

Two-time Olympian and Olympic silver medallist Peter Burling will play a pivotal role heading up the team as Skipper and helm. The 22 year-old kiwi has already had a taste of the action having helmed an AC45 catamaran for Team Korea in San Francisco in September 2012, providing the team a potential edge over other entries.

Skipper, Peter Burling says that all seven sailors are delighted to be selected for the highly coveted positions on the team and ready to embrace the opportunity which is now open to them. "I'm really confident that we have a great group of guys together," says Burling.

"We've had great input from some of the Emirates Team New Zealand guys including Joey Allen and Glen Ashby which has been awesome. Plus we've had the bonus of some training time on an ETNZ AC45 already, which is invaluable."

Burling's 2012 Olympic partner, 23 year old Blair Tuke is on the team as tactician. The Olympic silver medallist from Northland was recently crowned 2013 National Champion in the A-Class catamaran and sailed his first Sydney to Hobart Race in December.

Another three sailors are existing members of the NZL Sailing Team, New Zealand's top tier Olympic campaigners. Laser sailors Andy Maloney (22 years) and Sam Meech (21 years), along with Olympic 470 sailor Jason Saunders (22 years) have all been named on the NZL Sailing Team with Emirates Team New Zealand.

Andy Maloney not only delivered a Laser World Championship podium finish last year with a bronze medal, but additionally he brings multihull experience having raced recent international Extreme 40 events with the Oman Air team.

The youngest sailor named today Sam Meech has risen from gold at the Youth World Championships in 2009 continuing to display remarkable talent with top level results in the hotly competitive open Laser international fleet.

Jason Saunders was one half of the Men's 470 pair to represent New Zealand at the London 2012 Olympic Games, producing one of the less lauded yet very impressive results of the New Zealand team with a fifth place in the duo's debut Olympics.

Jono Spurdle (21 years) brings both strength as well as keelboat match racing nous to the team having campaigned with young New Zealand match racing team Full Metal Jacket over recent years. And Guy Endean (23 years) is another talented keelboat sailor who travelled as shore crew with New Zealand's Volvo Ocean Race entry CAMPER with Emirates Team New Zealand.

The Red Bull Youth America's Cup is a four day regatta on between 1st – 7th September in San Francisco featuring national teams of six sailors racing in AC45 catamarans, the same boats used for the America's Cup World Series regattas which have captivated global audiences.

Eligible sailors must hold a national passport and be aged between 19 and 24 years, and those named in the NZL Sailing Team with Emirates Team New Zealand have been chosen after an application and selection process which was a collaborative effort between Yachting New Zealand and Emirates Team New Zealand.

NZL Sailing Team with Emirates Team New Zealand Sailor Profiles

Peter Burling
DOB: 1/1/1991
Position: Skipper
Yacht Club: Tauranga Yacht & Powerboat Club

Sailing Career Highlights:
• 49er class - Olympic Silver Medal – London 2012 Olympic Games
• Double Silver medallist 49er World Championship (2011 and 2012)
• Youngest sailor at Beijing 2008 Olympics – finished 11th in 470 class (aged 17)
• 420 World Champion 2006 and 2007 aged 15 and 16.

Blair Tuke – Tactician
DOB: 27/7/1989
Position: Tactician
Yacht Club: Kerikeri Cruising Club

Sailing Career Highlights:
• 49er class - Olympic Silver Medal – London 2012 Olympic Games
• Double Silver medallist 49er World Championship (2011 and 2012)
• 29er World Champion 2009 & Splash World Champions 2006

Andy Maloney
DOB: 2/6/1990
Yacht Club: Murrays Bay Sailing Club

Sailing Career Highlights:
• Bronze Medal 2012 Laser World Championship
• Silver Medal 2012 ISAF Sailing World Cup – Hyeres
• Winner 2007 Laser Radial Men's Youth World Championship

Jono Spurdle
DOB: 13/3/1991
Yacht Club: Wakatere Boating Club/RNZYS

Sailing Career Highlights:
• 2nd Match Race France, Marseille, 2012
• 1st Asian Match Racing Championships, 2011
• 1st Knickerbocker Cup, New York, 2012
• Sir Peter Blake Leadership Award in 2010

Jason Saunders
DOB: 22/11/1990
Yacht Club: Tauranga Yacht & Powerboat Club

Sailing Career Highlights:
• 5th place London 2012 Olympic Games - Men's 470 class
• Bronze Medal 2012 Sail for Gold Regatta
• Winner 2012 French Spring Cup Regatta

Guy Endean
DOB: 31/3/1989
Yacht Club: RNZYS

Sailing Career Highlights:
• Line Honours Winner 2009 Rolex Fastnet Race
• Line and Handicap Winner 2010 RORC Caribbean 600 Race
• Line and Handicap Winner 2009 Transatlantic Maxi Yacht Cup

Sam Meech
DOB: 4/4/1991
Yacht Club: Tauranga Yacht & Powerboat Club

Sailing Career Highlights:
• Winner 2009 ISAF Youth World Championship – Laser class
• 4th place 2011 ISAF Sailing World Cup, Palma
• Winner Under 21 2011 Laser World Championship

Find out more about the Red Bull Youth America's Cup