Burling favours foiling speed for next America’s Cup
America’s Cup-winning helmsman Peter Burling hopes Team New Zealand persist with foiling catamarans for the next America’s Cup.
The new holders will unveil their protocols for the Cup in September where the venue, design type and nationality clause will be finalised.
There has been talk the Cup could return to more traditional monohulls, but Burling wants something fast.
He has told Radio Sport he’s confident Team New Zealand will come up with a class for America’s Cup 36 that will advance the event.
“I’m happy as long as it goes fast. It would be a bit of a shame to take a step backwards in terms of the speeds the boats can generate.
“I’m pretty sure we can come up with a rule that can keep pushing that forward.”
Burling is also a fan of a bigger nationality clause. “This time we had a very small nationality clause but definitely for me it seems like something that has got to be as part of the America’s Cup. It is a friendly competition between nations and the Deed of Gift is a big part of it.
“I’m in favour of the nationality clause but I’m not too sure how harsh it’s going to be yet, as to what percentage it breaks out at, but it’s all part of the fun and games over the next little while.”
Burling finished second at the Moth world championships in Italy yesterday after heading into the event with little preparation follow- ing Team New Zealand’s victorious America’s Cup in Bermuda.
His worst performance of the regatta was on the final day with a fifth, 23rd and a 17th on Lake Garda.
“It was something I haven’t really put a whole heap of effort in to but I’ve had a really fun week up here.
“I think I ran out of steam a little bit. Probably our tour over in NZ after the Cup probably wasn’t the best preparation for a world champs.”
Burling said he would have a few days rest before deciding whether to take part in the Volvo Ocean race, which starts in October. Team NZ teammate and fellow Olympic gold medallist Blair Tuke has already signed up for the race around the world, joining Spanish team MAPFRE.
“Definitely got plenty of options . . . Just trying to take my time and make sure I make a good decision.”
Meanwhile Cup veteran Francesco Bruni reckons foiling should stay but not the cyclors.
He has played a big part in the Luna Rossa syndicate, since it challenged Team New Zealand for the trophy in 2003.
“My personal opinion is that it is okay if it goes back to a monohull, provided it is high performance,” he said. “Also we can’t ignore foiling, because that has been such a great success across all of the sailing world.
“[But] I think what happened with the cyclists on board was cool to see once, but it is not good in the long term — everyone agrees with that.”