Now they have pushed that record just a little further out of reach, with their names to be engraved on the historic trophy for the fourth time.
Burling and Tuke delivered a dominant Olympic campaign, culminating in an astonishing regatta at the Rio Olympics to take the gold medal by 43 points, the biggest winning margin across all the classes in Rio.
The New Zealand pair were assured of a medal after 11 races, the gold medal after 12 races and they won the 49er medal race to secure the Olympic victory in impressive style.
In the nomination period they won two 49er World Championships, as well as being unbeaten in all major regattas in the four-year build up to the Olympic Games.
In between they played key roles for Team New Zealand in the America's Cup qualification points series, with Burling helmsman and Tuke a key member of the crew.
There were plenty of other accolades for the Tauranga Yacht and Power Boat Club and its famous alumni of sailors.
The club was awarded the Yachting New Zealand President's Award for outstanding achievements from this club over the past year. The club has fostered the talent of four New Zealand sailing Olympians this year and continues to produce hard working, results-driven sailors.
Medallists and siblings Sam and Molly Meech, Burling and Jason Saunders all grew up together learning to sail down at Sulphur Point.
Yachting New Zealand Performance Awards for 2016 were awarded to Burling and Tuke, Molly and Sam Meech and Saunders