America's Cup: After brutal sighting: New Zealand's new dream team is set

The New Zealanders will not be unveiling their new AC75 Cup yacht until the end of August or beginning of September. However, the team that will handle this monohull projectile on foils has already been finalised. The core is made up of four well-known stars who were instrumental in the 2017 Cup triumph off Bermuda: Foil guru Glenn Ashby, helmsman Peter Burling, trimmer Blair Tuke and strategist Ray Davies. Two of the four supersailors are once again on a double mission, preparing for the defence of the Cup with Emirates Team New Zealand and at the same time aiming for another Olympic victory in the Japanese waters off Enoshima in 2020.

The Kiwis present their new team for the Cup defence

New Zealand sailors Andy Maloney, Guy Endean, Joseph Sullivan, Josh Junior and Simon van Velthoven, who were also involved in the 2017 victory, and Dutchman Carlo Huisman have been nominated as returnees. New Zealand's COO Kevin Shoebridge said: "It wasn't an easy path for anyone to make the team. Everyone had to prove themselves again. To see the hunger of the guys who fought with us last time was really encouraging."

New to the team are New Zealander John Sinclair, who raced with Oracle Team New Zealand in 2017, Olympic swimmer Steven Ferguson as a grinder and former 49er sailor and stand-up paddling champion Marcus Hansen and indoor rower Marius Van der Pol - also as grinders. Dan Plews and conditioning specialist Adam Storey are responsible for the tough physical training in the team. They describe the training as "brutal" and the demands as "extremely high". You can be sure that the Kiwis will turn up in their home waters off Auckland with an exceptionally well-trained crew. Just remember the "cyclists" at the last Cup...