Skipper winner of the American Cup leaves the NZ team

The New Zealand team said their administration and Burling have been in discussions since the third successive triumph of the Cup against Britain in Barcelona last year, but failed to reach an agreement.

“Pete has been a central figure who grew incredibly inside the Emirates team, New Zealand, since joining 10 years ago,” said team’s chief executive Grant Dalton today in a statement today.

“We can all look back with great pride of what was achieved, having obtained unprecedented success as a team with Pete in charge.”

The decision occurs days after Ineos Britannia removed her intention to challenge the next cup, having separated from Captain Ben Ainslie in January.

British Ainslie promised to compete in the 38th edition with his British America’s Cup team, now known as Athena Racing.

Burling joined the NZ team after winning gold and silver medals at the 2012 and 2016 Olympics sailing with teammate Blair Tuke.

He directed New Zealand to victory over defender Team USA in Bermuda in 2017, becoming the youngest captain to win a America at the age of 26.

Four years later, he guided New Zealand’s successful defense against Luna Rossa in Auckland, while manipulating preparations for the Tokyo Olympics, where he won another silver medal in class 49er with Tuke.

The NZ team did not specify why the discussions had broken, but Dalton suggested that there may have been a point of discord over Burling role from now on.

“What has allowed to win in the past not always equals winning in the future, especially in much closer cycles of the America, which require a dedicated and new approach to continuous success,” he said.

Burling said in the NZ team’s statement that he would “take a moment to reflect” without elaborating his plans.

“I am immensely proud of everything we have achieved together and grateful to all who were part of this chapter,” Burling said.

(Ian Ransom report in Melbourne; Edition of Shri Navaratnam.)