Australia name America's Cup skipper

Mathew Belcher celebrates winning gold at the London Olympics. Photo / Getty Images

Olympic sailing champion Mathew Belcher has been named skipper of Australia's new America's Cup team.

The 2012 London Games gold medallist's appointment was unveiled along with Team Australia's first boat - a new AC45 catamaran - at Sydney's Woolwich Dock on Thursday.

The boat and its crew will spend the next few days training with America's Cup defenders Oracle Team USA, led by Australian Tom Slingsby, on Sydney Harbour.

Making his debut in the America's Cup represents a big challenge for Belcher, who is more used to sailing small two-man dinghies than the larger and faster America's Cup catamarans.

Another key question is how the Australian plans to balance the rigorous demands of preparing for the 35th America's Cup - due to be staged in 2017 - while also campaigning for the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Nonetheless, Belcher is one of the world's best sailors.

He has four 470 class world titles to go with his London Olympics gold.

He won a record 18 regattas in a row between 2011 and 2014, with former crewmate Malcolm Page and current partner Will Ryan.

Team Australia is being bankrolled by Bob Oatley's Hamilton Island Yacht Club and is the challenger of record for the 35th America's Cup, giving it the right to help decide the rules and location for the event.

Australia is trying to win the prestigious Auld Mug for the first time since it's historic 1983 triumph.

Team Australia's crew is yet to be finalised but CEO Iain Murray has suggested it will feature mainly young, up and coming Australian sailors.

Skiff world champion Seve Jarvin led an experimental Team Australia crew at last month's Extreme Sailing Series in Singapore but the team finished the event 10th out of 11 boats.

- AAP