Kiwi SailGP star Phil Robertson has played down suggestions that he might join Team New Zealand for their America's Cup campaign, saying there was "not much" to conversations with members of the team.
Robertson, who heads the Canadian SailGP outfit, garnered plenty of attention early in the SailGP season as he drove his crew to podium finishes in the first two events. It was a big surprise, given this is the Canadian team's first season in the competition.
It's Robertson's third campaign, after sailing in season one with China and season two with Spain, and his abilities on the foiling F50 catamaran are well-proven. With plenty of Team New Zealand talent involved in the nation's SailGP team as well, the parties often converse but Robertson says while he would love an opportunity to compete in the Cup, conversation is all there is to it.
"It's not much, just speculation, I guess," Robertson said. "I'm really close with all the Kiwi team in SailGP and the guys that are involved in Team New Zealand as well. We're always talking and I'm always happy to keep that relationship strong. They're rivals on the racecourse, but definitely mates as soon as you're on land, and it hasn't really gotten much further than that.
"I think the Cup is something pretty special. It's a pretty unique competition in all sports and something that has always been a passion of mine to compete in and still is. To be honest, SailGP is in such a cool phase at the moment and to be involved in that is a dream come true. To be racing in that series under the Canadian flag even is something quite cool.