Sailing duo face next challenge

Kerikeri's Blair Tuke (foreground) says he team-mate Peter Burling "aren't afraid of losing". Photo / Matius Capizzano

Twenty-two consecutive wins is a hard feat to fault in any sporting code.

And for Northland's world-beating sailor Blair Tuke, the 2015 Rolex World Sailor of the Year, yet another challenge floats on the horizon - although this one sails in a slightly more intangible form.

Holding off the imminent threat of complacency, the 26-year-old says life is good at the top of the world; however, he knows all too well that the champagne tastes a little less fragrant on the lower tiers of the podium.

Only managing to retire a silver medal to the mantelpiece after finishing runners-up at the London 2012 Olympic Games, a relentless run toward being the best now has the pair on track to finishing one place better at the Rio 2016 Olympics.

"We're not afraid of losing," Tuke said yesterday, fresh off the plane from Argentina where he and Burling recently picked up their third straight Men's 49er World Championship title.

"That's where some of the pressure could come from, and no doubt we're going to have targets on our backs heading into the games next year, but we've just got to concentrate on what we can do, put our best foot forward, and sail the boat as best we can."

On the topic of pressure, Tuke's aware it can break even the best athletes.

But then again, Tuke and Burling left the echelon of "the best" behind a long time ago.

Not far off etching their names into world sailing history as "greats" - a credible title, given they're now mixing it with the best - what separates the star duo apart from the rest is simple - they know how to win.

"It's become a pretty big run now and that's not what it's about for us really ... with the Olympics being the main goal it's just about getting better and keeping your eye on the end prize.

"We don't go into all of those regattas with winning as the goal, there's little goals within that and, as long as we keep ticking off those little goals to get through to next year, we'll be happy - it's just a bonus to get a win at the same time. The pressure's something we quite enjoy. Pete and I normally go better at the big events when the pressure's on ... when you need the result, that's what excites us."

Tuke says he's looking forward to returning to "where it all started" this summer.

"We'll get two or three weeks off over summer which I'm looking forward to, I'll spend most of my time in Kerikeri, all of my brothers are going to be back, so there's no doubt we'll be doing a lot of surfing and diving and fishing missions. It's been a pretty busy, crazy couple of weeks, so it'll be nice to relax a little bit now."