Burling set for Volvo

Peter Burling says the lure of a fresh challenge was irresistible as he joins America’s Cup winning team-mate Carlo Huisman aboard the Dutch entry in this year’s round the world race.

The 26-year-old helmsman confirmed he had signed with Team Brunel, skippered by Volvo Ocean Race veteran Bouwe Bekking, who will sail his eighth edition of the famous race when it starts in October.

Huisman, a powerful Dutchman who became a key member of Team New Zealand’s America’s Cup success where he had a regular role as a ‘‘cyclor’’, will be at Burling’s side along with Australian Kyle Langford who operated Oracle’s wingsail in the Cup final against the Kiwis in Bermuda.

They will race against Blair Tuke, who has already got his Volvo sailing boots wet with Spanish entry Mapfre.

Burling likes the feel of his new outfit and says the experience of Bekking and his crew was instrumental to his decision, given his limited blue-water sailing experience.

‘‘It seemed like a good opportunity for me to learn a lot off some pretty experienced guys,’’ Burling said.

‘‘I’ve done a little bit of ocean racing before, but never on a Volvo. I’ve still got a lot to learn and I’m really looking forward to the challenge.’’

He also felt the team would be competitive, a key ingredient for a sailor so used to the podium, with Olympic silver and gold in the 49er with Tuke, several world championship titles and the America’s Cup success on an impressive CV.

‘‘Obviously every race you do you want to win and as a team we’re here to win this thing, but we’ve got a lot to learn and for the moment we’re trying to improve as much as we can as a team.

‘‘I’ve got a long way to go to improve my skills as an offshore sailor – I’ve done relatively well around the cans in small boat racing but I’m really looking forward to a new challenge.’’