NZL Sailing Team Rio: We're ready, how about you?

Just hours from the start of the Rio 2016 Opening Ceremony we bring you this update from the NZL Sailing Team.

Watch here our video where the NZL Sailing Team reveal the names theyve given their Olympic boats, and in three words, how theyre feeling about Rio 2016. https://youtu.be/F5R0EAWZbEk

New Zealand sailors Peter Burling and Blair Tuke will lead the New Zealand Olympic Team into Maracan Stadium for the Rio 2016 Opening Ceremony and become the first co-captains to do so for New Zealand. The Opening Ceremony starts at 8:30pm Brazil time - 12:30pm NZ time.

A strong contingent of kiwi sailors will be among the group lead by Burling and Tuke and the faces of the NZL Sailing Team will feature prominently as the world watches what is expected to be a uniquely Brazilian Opening Ceremony.

After enjoying the festivities the team plan to return their focus to the competition with equipment inspections scheduled over the days leading up to kick off.

The first of the NZL Sailing Team to go racing is Laser campaigner Sam Meech with two races scheduled for day one of the sailing competition starting at 1300 on 8 August with New Zealands other single-handed sailor Josh Junior starting the next day on 9 August.

On 10 August both 470 crews get underway including Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie, and Paul Snow-Hansen and Daniel Willcox. The new mixed multihull also starts on Wednesday with Gemma Jones and Jason Saunders set to sail three races.

Finally both the mens and womens skiff events - featuring Peter Burling and Blair Tuke (49er), and Alex Maloney and Molly Meech (49erFX) - start racing on Friday 12 August.

Medal races are scheduled between 15-18 August (with 19 August as a reserve).

Download our Fan Guide here: yachtingnz.org.nz/racing/olympic/2016-olympic-sailing-team

- This story has been automatically published using a media release from Yachting New Zealand