Team New Zealand helmsman Nathan Outteridge has lifted the lid on the conversation that saw him join the team for the 37th America’s Cup and identified a key reason why he was brought into the team.
The Defender caught many off guard when they announced the signing of the two-time Olympic medalist in late 2021 after retaining the Auld Mug in Auckland earlier that year. At that point, Peter Burling (helmsman) and Blair Tuke (flight controller) were yet to be re-signed by the team and Outteridge’s signing suggested a potential contingency plan had Burling and Tuke opted not to return. It also triggered suggestions that Team New Zealand were planning to adopt a dual helming strategy for their next campaign which would see Burling and Outteridge share driving duties; that proved to be the case.
Speaking to the Herald, the New Zealand-based Australian provided some insight into the conversations between himself and Team New Zealand chief operating officer Kevin Shoebridge around working alongside Burling in a bid to improve a key area of their performance that ultimately saw him signed.
“Kevin Shoebridge approached me probably a few months after the America’s Cup was over and said they were looking to strengthen the sailing team but also to make sure they were prepared as best they could be for racing,” Outteridge told the Herald.
“I think one of the things they felt was maybe lacking in the last Cup was the racing side of it. Clearly, the boat was fast and the guys sailed it incredibly well in terms of handling, but there was very little racing mentality and they felt that if they could have Pete and myself together – whether we’re racing against each other in-house or working together on racing strategies – that was something they were quite keen to put together.