Olympics: Kiwi skiff pair eye switch to big boats

As far as jobs interviews go, Peter Burling and Blair Tuke should feel pretty confident.

They didn't do much talking - Burling is a man of few words anyway - and there isn't actually a job for them to go to yet, but the young Kiwi sailors who picked up silver in the 49er class yesterday morning hope to have a few options soon.

They have certainly attracted attention, considering they won New Zealand's 100th Olympic medal since the first in 1908. They just hope the right people were watching.

"Possibly [racing in the 2016 Olympics in] Rio, maybe the middle of the Southern Ocean [in the Volvo Ocean Race], maybe the America's Cup," Tuke said when talking about the future. "We don't know."

Both the America's Cup and Volvo Ocean Race have a special appeal with New Zealand sailors and transferring from dinghies, or skiffs, to big boats is common.

Russell Coutts turned the America's Cup into his personal plaything after winning Olympic gold in 1984, Leslie Egnot, silver medallist with Jan Shearer in the women's 470 in 1992, skippered an all-women America's Cup boat and others like Craig Monk and Hamish Pepper switched over, too.

Nathan Outteridge, one half of the gold medal-winning Australian 49er crew who are also Burling and Tuke's training partners, has also been lined up as skipper and helmsman for the Team Korea America's Cup campaign.

Outteridge intends defending his Olympic crown in Rio in four years' time, meaning it is possible to switch between the two vastly different classes of boat, and Burling and Tuke could also be tempted to return.

"Pete and I both really enjoy the America's Cup and Volvo Ocean Race but we know we are both still young and have years ahead," Tuke said.

"We will take it easy and not rush into anything and try to make the right decision.

"We have done a few coastal races [in big boats]. It would be a huge step up for us to do something like that. But we might now be on a few people's radars, which should be good.

"Sailing isn't a huge sport. If you are in the know, you can get in. We are going to have to do a heck of a lot of learning to step up to that level but we have shown with this campaign we can learn fast. I think we could do that on big boats."

They aren't restricted to working with Team New Zealand, and plenty of Kiwi sailors ply their trade with rival outfits. Outteridge might even be able to put in a good word with Team Korea if the Koreans happen to make the start line for the next America's Cup.

These are all questions about the future. For now, Burling and Tuke want to celebrate what they achieved in Weymouth and it's a medal that holds considerable significance considering it was New Zealand's 100th.

Fittingly, they received their medals from boardsailor Barbara Kendall, an IOC member, three-time Olympic medallist and New Zealand's most successful female Olympian.

"It's just amazing," Tuke said.

"So many great people have won medals for New Zealand in the past and to be alongside them is pretty special. To be the actual 100th ones is quite crazy. We are quite proud."

It is likely the pair will become the answer to a quiz question in years to come but, as much as they joked that would be their proudest achievement, Burling and Tuke have loftier ambitions.