Team New Zealand Returns To Extreme 40 Sailing Series As It Waits For Cup Details

Team New Zealand "will return to the Extreme 40 circuit this year as they endeavour to keep the sailing team occupied while they await details of the next America's Cup," according to the NEW ZEALAND HERALD. Contested in one-design 40-ft catamarans, the series "features several top sailing teams, including one of Team New Zealand's old rivals, Alinghi, and Ben Ainslie Racing." Skipper Dean Barker said that he "doesn't want to waste any time in developing the sailing team and integrating newcomes Peter Burling and Blair Tuke into the squad." Barker: "We can't wait around until Oracle releases the Protocol for the 35th America's Cup. We need to keep developing and take every available opportunity to compete in cats" (NZ HERALD, 1/21).