Peter Burling has brought his home country golden times and triumphs in a row. A dominator of his time in both the Olympic 49er skiff and the America's Cup, the now 34-year-old helmsman from Tauranga in New Zealand has stormed to the top of the sailing world - alongside his companion Blair Tuke for most of the time since 2009. They won Olympic gold in 2016 and two silver medals in 2012 and 2021. Six world championship titles in the 49er alone testify to the quality of both Kiwis.
The power in the America's Cup
They only went their separate ways once: In the 2017/2018 Ocean Race, Burling went for the offshore crown with Bouwe Bekking's Team Brunel. Blair Tuke took on the challenge with Spanish team Mapfre. In the end, both missed out on the unprecedented triple of victories in the America's Cup, the Olympic Games and the Ocean Race by an incredibly narrow margin, as Charles Caudrelier's Dongfeng Race Team prevailed against the teams with Burling and Tuke in the thriller final.
In the America's Cup, however, Burling and Tuke always remained a force. Their demonstration began with victory in the first Youth America's Cup in 2013, and in the 35th America's Cup Burling was already at the helm of Team New Zealand. Not without Blair Tuke, of course. With the Cup victory on 27 June 2017 at the age of 26, "Pistol Pete" Burling became the youngest helmsman ever to win the silver jug with his team.
In 2021, Emirates Team New Zealand successfully defended the trophy with Burling and Tuke in challenging coronavirus times in the 36th America's Cup at home in Auckland. Most recently, the Kiwis were also victorious again with Burling in their "overseas defence" in Barcelona. The now married father of a young daughter has won 22 Cup races in his Cup career, beating the record previously held by Jimmy Spithill with 17 races.
A formative character leaves the team
For many New Zealanders and sailing fans around the world, the helmsman is as indispensable to the New Zealanders' America's Cup team as Russell Coutts once was. But just like Coutts, who now heads up the Formula 1 of sailing as SailGP co-founder and CEO and can also look back on Olympic gold and a whopping five America's Cup victories, Peter Burling is now also leaving Emirates Team New Zealand.
He will not have done so without interesting prospects. He also wants to promote the interests of his own "Black Foils" team in the SailGP and the work of the Live Ocean Foundation, which supports promising and innovative projects in the fields of marine science, conservation and technology. The Kiwis' press release initially failed to introduce possible successors to Peter Burling, coming across more in typical Kiwi style: friendly, authoritative and fact-orientated.
Under the headline "Emirates Team New Zealand and Peter Burling part ways ahead of the 38th America's Cup", it states that both parties have agreed to part ways ahead of the upcoming Cup edition. It goes on to say: "Talks have been taking place between the team management and Burling since Barcelona, but no agreement has been reached."
Growing with Emirates Team New Zealand
The team statement itself begins with reference to the planned reorganisation of the Cup structures and the increased frequency of events: "As the America's Cup is now held in more regular cycles, the demands on team members are changing. As the time frames for design, simulation, boat building, testing and racing are getting shorter, the integration of key sailors into the design team is more important than ever."
Pete has been a central figure who has grown incredibly since joining Emirates Team New Zealand ten years ago." Grant Dalton
The statement about the higher frequency of events in the America's Cup may indicate that Peter Burling is pursuing other interests in addition to his Cup involvement, such as those of his team in the SailGP, and would not be as exclusively available as Emirates Team New Zealand would like.
New Zealand team CEO Grant Dalton paid tribute to his strong-nerved helmsman at the official farewell and said: "We can all look back with great pride on what we have achieved, as we have achieved unprecedented success as a team with Pete at the helm."
"The privilege of being part of something special"
However, Dalton also noted that: "Winning the America's Cup three times in a row was uncharted territory. But what has led to victory in the past does not always mean you will win in the future, especially in much tighter America's Cup cycles that require a dedicated and fresh approach for continued success."
Peter Burling's farewell was not without melancholy: "Although I will not be continuing with Emirates Team New Zealand in the 38th America's Cup, I would like to take a moment to reflect on an incredible journey. Over the past ten years, I have had the privilege of being part of something truly special - from intense battles to unforgettable victories and friendships that go far beyond sailing."
Peter Burling's review is as positive as the balance sheet he leaves behind: "I am very proud of everything we have achieved together and grateful to everyone who has been part of this chapter." In the team statement, both sides also emphasise the following: "Both Emirates Team New Zealand and Burling treat each other with respect and are proud of the journey they have undertaken together."
A proud representative of New Zealand
In his own comments on social media, Peter Burling wrote: "I am proud of the battles, the victories and of being part of one of the greatest sports teams in the world. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all. My family, friends and New Zealand sailing fans for the great support over the last ten years. I am very grateful to everyone who has been part of this chapter."
I wish ETNZ all the best for the defence of the 38th America's Cup." Peter Burling
He is "incredibly excited about the future" and is looking forward to growing the Black Foils. This is the name by which the New Zealand SailGP team led by Peter Burling and Blair Tuke is now best known. Peter Burling announced that he would "proudly represent New Zealand both at home and on the global stage and drive positive action for the ocean through Live Ocean".
Possible Burling successors have not yet been unveiled, but management at Emirates Team New Zealauf have been "working hard to secure a powerful combination of existing experience and new talent in all departments to capitalise on every opportunity to win the America's Cup for the sixth time" on course for the 38th America's Cup.
