Jo Aleh and Molly Meech at the 49er FX Sailing World Championships 2023. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Olympians and world champion sailors have been named in the first Team New Zealand Women's America's Cup crew.
Jo Aleh, an Olympic gold medalist in the 470 class, is joined by 49er FX world champion Molly Meech, Olympic Nacra sailors Erica Dawson and Gemma Jones and world champion foiling sailor Olivia Mackay in the team that will race against 11 other countries in October next year in Barcelona.
The regatta will be sailed on AC40s in the first time a specific Women's America's Cup has been held.
Representing Team New Zealand at the Youth America's Cup next year will be a five-man crew that come from a variety of sailing backgrounds.
Laser youth world champion Joshua Armit, 420 world champion and Moth national champion Seb Menzies, 49er Olympian Leo Takahashi, two-time national wind foiling champion Veerle ten Have and 49er national champion Oscar Gunn have made the cut in a competitive selection process.
More than 120 sailors applied to be selected for the teams.
Team New Zealand chief operating officer Kevin Shoebridge who was also on the selection panel said the level of talent across the board from all the shortlisted sailors was "phenomenal"
"Individually, they are all at the top of their game, so it is hard to separate them, but our job was to build the best team and AC40 sailing combinations to win both the youth and women's events, and strengthen the foundation of talent for the future, so we are very excited to welcome them all to the team."
The respective Youth and Women's teams will assemble for a series of training camps starting in February next year where they will get their first taste of sailing the AC40 to work out the strongest combinations of roles between the driving and trimming positions.
23-year-old Veerle ten Have was "beyond stoked" to be selected.
"I think it's a huge step in my sailing career and I'm excited to get to know, and work alongside the team. Overall, I'm honoured to be part of this epic journey."
Takahashi was fresh off a podium finish as crew in the World Match Racing championships and had enjoyed being immersed in Team New Zealand's environment.
"I am going to put my all into this project and I am excited to learn, grow and perform with this great team of talented sailors."
Currently there are four Emirates Team New Zealand AC75 sailors that sailed in previous Youth America's Cup regattas Menzies can see what opportunity lies ahead.
"It is a huge privilege to be selected in the Emirates Team New Zealand youth team. To be part of an America's Cup team has always been a dream of mine from when I first stepped into a boat. I'm super excited and motivated to be part of such a high performing team and to be working alongside so many exceptional sailors who I have grown up following."
The teams are:
Team New Zealand Women's team:
Jo Aleh - Olympic Gold & Silver medals in 470 class / NZLSailGP
Erica Dawson - Tokyo Olympics Nacra- 12th / NZLSailGP
Gemma Jones - Nacra 17 Rio Olympics 2016- 4th
Olivia Mackay - World Champion Red Bull Foiling Generation / NZLSailGP
Molly Meech - 49er FX world champion and Olympic Silver medallist
Team New Zealand Youth team:
Joshua Armit - Gold medal at the 2018 Youth Worlds in Laser class
Oscar Gunn - 2022 49er National Champion
Veerle ten Have - 2021 & 2022 Wind foiling National Champion
Seb Menzies - 420 World Champion / 2022 Moth National Champion
Leo Takahashi - 49er Olympics 2020 Tokyo Olympics- 11th