Emirates Team New Zealand star is the youngest helmsman to win America’s Cup

The Kiwi team dominated the final stage of the 35th America’s Cup, overcoming defending champions ORACLE TEAM USA 7-1 on the Great Sound in Bermuda. At just 26, Burling now adds the America’s Cup to the Red Bull Youth America’s Cup trophy he won in San Francisco, 2013.

After wild celebrations onboard their boat, Burling said: “We’re just blown away. We came here to win the America’s Cup and right now we’re taking the America’s Cup back home to New Zealand.

“I’ve grown up watching this competition as a fan and to be a Kiwi and taking this Cup home is a dream come true. To be able to win this event at such a young age is an unreal feeling.”

The final race started with both Emirates Team New Zealand and ORACLE TEAM USA enjoying clean starts and engaged in a drag race to the first mark, the US team edging just ahead but then losing ground to their rivals on the run to the second mark.

Burling was serene at the helm of the Kiwi boat, displaying no nerves as he steered his team towards glory, but Spithill and the ORACLE TEAM USA crew were not giving up, pushing harder than ever to try and spark another memorial comeback similar to four years ago.

They managed to peg back their rivals slightly in the latter stages of the race, but New Zealand sealed their win in impressive style, crossing the finish line for the final time 55 seconds ahead of the US team.

ORACLE TEAM USA skipper, Spithill, said: “They sailed better than anyone else out here and so, rightly so, they are the 35th America’s Cup champions. With hindsight there are a lot of things you would like to change but I think it’s far too early to say what might have gone wrong.“