Top Australian adds depth to Team NZ

Team New Zealand have signed outstanding Australian helmsman Nathan Outteridge.

The champion America’s Cup syndicate made the move on the back of their successful defence in Auckland earlier this year. It comes as Kiwi superstars Peter Burling and Blair Tuke have yet to fully commit to Team New Zealand.

Team New Zealand see it as a way of strengthening their sailing squad with a real desire to move

Burling and Tuke from their retainers to longterm deal for the 37th edition of the Cup to be sailed at a venue still to be announced.

Outteridge’s arrival will add heat to Burling’s claims to be on the wheel of the New Zealand boat.

The possibility of the Kiwis replicating the dual-helming approach of beaten challengers Luna Rossa can’t be ruled out.

Outteridge’s signature follows a thorough independent review of Team New Zealand’s effort against the Italians. While they won the

Match 7-3, the review was critical of the sailing crew which had troubles in the starting box and spluttered to 3-3 before finding the momentum to retain the Auld Mug. Outteridge qualifies for Team New Zealand under the strict nationality rules to be introduced for the next America’s Cup. The 35-yearold’s wife Emma is the daughter of long-time Team New Zealand manager Ross Blackman – the couple have an Auckland house. Team New Zealand chief operations officer Kevin Shoebridge said there was a need to get even better to achieve a three-peat of Cup wins, and they felt Outteridge could help that goal.

``Like everything, we were pretty hard on ourselves after the Cup in terms of looking at what we could do better,’’ Shoebridge said.

He felt Outteridge joining the likes of Burling, Tuke, Glenn Ashby, Josh Junior and Andy Maloney meant a very strong sailing department.

Team New Zealand have a real desire to improve the match-racing skills of the sailing team and see Outteridge as a key component in that. They plan to use two of the new 40-foot foiling monohulls to be introduced for the Youth and Women’s America’s Cup as test boats for this edition as test boats. Outteridge will surely be put in charge of one of those.

Burling and Tuke have welcomed Outteridge’s signing.

``Nathan is a great sailor, we’ve sailed with him throughout our careers, and he’s a positive addition to the team,’’ they said in a joint statement to Stuff.

``Although we haven’t yet resigned for the next cup campaign, we have been involved with the team since we won the cup in March.’’