Sailing: Blair Tuke signs up for cup and olympics

Peter Burling (left), Blair Tuke and Grant Dalton in Auckland yesterday. Photo/Chris Cameron

Bringing the "old boy" home is going to be in the forefront of Kerikeri Olympian Blair Tuke's mind, now that he has signed with Emirates Team New Zealand for the next America's Cup campaign.

Tuke admitted he had kept it a secret since before Christmas as he sought a plan for balancing his desire for gold at the Rio Olympics along with bringing the America's Cup home.

"We [Tuke and his 49er partner Peter Burling, who has also been confirmed as a member of Team New Zealand] had to make sure we were putting the right amounts of time in with still doing our Olympics training," Tuke said.

"We're going to have to be really smart with our time management, the goal is to go to Rio and try to win a gold and then, pretty much straight after, try and bring the old boy back home with Team New Zealand.

"To be able to combine America's Cup sailing with our Olympic campaign is fantastic. Our expectation is that sailing at the highest level in our 49er as well as with Emirates Team New Zealand will complement each other and make us stronger at both types of sailing."

For Tuke, yesterday's announcement is a dream come true for the 24-year-old.

"[The announcement] was a pretty proud moment really. Team New Zealand is such an iconic brand, not only for sailors in New Zealand but everyday Kiwis as well, and I've looked up to the guys.

"I'm not sure exactly who's the team going forward, but certainly those guys [from the last challenge] with our affiliation through the Youth America's Cup have welcomed us into the team."

Managing director Grant Dalton said the team needed to bring young New Zealand sailors up through the ranks if it was to stay at the forefront of international sailing.

"Peter and Blair have performed with distinction internationally and have earned the chance sail with us.

"They are well aware that the transition from Olympic sailing and making their own decisions to being part of a large, structured sailing team will not be easy.

"Their job will be to soak up the knowledge and the experience within the team and push hard for a place on the America's Cup boat."

Dalton said the team would race two AC45s at world series events in 2015 and 2016. The America's Cup World Series fits neatly into their Olympic campaign.

He added some of the Team New Zealand yachtsmen could not be retained "because we can't afford it" and some would just not be retained, meaning Northland grinder Chris McAsey's spot onboard could be in doubt.

While details of the next America's Cup are still yet to be divulged by holders Oracle Team USA, their discussions with the challenger of record, Australia's Hamilton Island Yacht Club, are advanced and Dalton said he was pleased with how things were progressing.