Possible motivations for Peter Burling’s split

The news that Team New Zealand has parted ways with their 3-time winning skipper Peter Burling has kept the Kiwi pundits busy. Team NZ chief executive Grant Dalton said it was an amicable split, that there was no ‘one issue’ that prevented the continued partnership, and how the team couldn’t wait any longer for Burling to commit.

D’Arcy Waldegrave on Newstalk ZB thinks Burling now being a dad was a factor, along with the growth of SailGP:

“Burling is the CEO of the Black Foils. The SailGP series is the future of high profile, high speed, and high budget sailing. It is a global, regularly staged, easily understood and dynamic series. Burling hasn’t won it, but he’s held aloft the Auld Mug thrice. The pull between Coutts (SailGP) and Dalton (America’s Cup) for the services of one of the biggest names in sailing may well have reached breaking point and Burling can see the untapped future of the former. The likelihood of either series being content with Burling straddling both events in 2027 is low if not non-existent.” – Full report

Details: https://www.americascup.com/

No entries have yet been submitted for the 38th America’s Cup as Defender New Zealand works with the Challenger of Record from Great Britain to organize the event. Anticipated to be held in 2027, the two teams have agreed on some details with the venue to be confirmed by June 2025 after Barcelona declined hosting another edition.