America's Cup: Team New Zealand reveal crew for 36th America's Cup

Emirates Team New Zealand won the America's Cup in Bermuda in 2017. Photo / Photosport

When the America's Cup comes to Auckland in 2021, a plethora of familiar faces will be tasked with keeping the Auld Mug in New Zealand.

Team New Zealand today confirmed their lineup for the 36th America's Cup, which will include 10 returning members and four new faces.

Returning alongside the already named Blair Tuke, Peter Burling, Glenn Ashby and Ray Davies will be Simon van Velthooven, Josh Junior, Joe Sullivan, Andy Maloney, Carlo Huisman and Guy Endean.

"There wasn't an easy road into this group for anyone in the sailing team. They all effectively had to prove themselves again. And it has been really encouraging to see the hunger from the guys who were with us last time to return for the defence on home waters in New Zealand," said Team New Zealand chief operating officer Kevin Shoebridge.

A number of the familiar faces that were onboard the America's Cup winning crew as 'cyclors' in Bermuda are back again by making a successful transition back from the leg powered cycling system which has now been outlawed within the Class Rule for the 36th America's Cup.

Former Oracle Team USA sailor Louis Sinclair is among the new faces, with Steven Ferguson, Marcus Hansen and Marius van der Pol also joining the cause.

"We have a really interesting mix of sailors making up the Emirates Team New Zealand sailing team for the AC36," Shoebridge said.

"As we have always seen, a cohesive mix of both sailing talent and raw power is a fundamental piece of the puzzle to success on the water. We saw this in Bermuda and will no doubt see it again in Auckland."

Team New Zealand head of physical performance Dan Plews and strength and conditioning specialist Adam Storey will oversee the physical training and development of the sailing team towards the 36th America's Cup Match in March 2021.

"Grinding on the AC75's is a going to be a massively physically demanding role for grinders during racing. Having put all of these guys through some pretty brutal testing sessions we are pretty impressed with their natural ability, but also the extent they will go through to push their bodies to the limit." said Plews.

Team New Zealand's crew for 36th America's Cup: Blair Tuke, Peter Burling, Glenn Ashby, Ray Davies, Simon van Velthooven, Josh Junior, Joe Sullivan, Andy Maloney, Carlo Huisman, Guy Endean, Louis Sinclair, Steven Ferguson, Marcus Hansen and Marius van der Pol.