Burling’s transfer marks a major development in the early phases of the AC38 cycle, with Luna Rossa making clear its intent to challenge for sailing’s most prestigious prize with renewed energy and strategic focus. “I’m incredibly proud to be joining Luna Rossa for the 38th America’s Cup,” Burling said in a statement. “I’ve always loved racing against Luna Rossa and now to join this iconic team is a real honour. The innovation and competitiveness they bring to the Cup has always inspired me.”
The New Zealander’s signing is not just symbolic — it’s tactical. Burling brings unmatched experience, with three America’s Cup wins (2017, 2021, and 2024), three Olympic medals, and six 49er world titles. His presence is expected to have an immediate impact on both sailing performance and technical development within the Luna Rossa team.
Max Sirena, Luna Rossa CEO and long-time figurehead of the Italian syndicate, acknowledged the magnitude of the signing: “Peter has been a long-time rival, and over the years we’ve come to deeply respect both his exceptional sailing talent and his sportsmanship on the racecourse… His presence will give the team a significant boost, bringing renewed energy, expertise, and determination as we look ahead to the challenge before us.”
While his exact role is still being defined, Sirena confirmed Burling will join the core sailing team and contribute to the broader development programme. The timing is also significant — with America’s Cup campaigns now operating on shorter and more intense cycles, integrating high-calibre sailors with technical expertise into early planning phases is increasingly vital.
This follows Burling’s amicable departure from Emirates Team New Zealand, announced in April 2025 after negotiations failed to produce a path forward. Changing dynamics in Cup campaigning — especially the demand for deeper sailor involvement in design and simulation from the outset — were key to the split. At the time, Emirates Team New Zealand CEO Grant Dalton paid tribute to Burling’s contribution, calling his leadership at the helm “unprecedented” and acknowledging the team’s shared pride in their success together.
Burling, for his part, described the split as the close of “an amazing journey” and thanked the team for a decade of “intense battles, unforgettable victories, and friendships that extend well beyond sailing.”
Now, with Luna Rossa, he embarks on a new chapter — not as a rival, but as a driving force within one of the strongest challengers in the Cup’s modern era. The team has come close on multiple occasions, most recently losing to Emirates Team New Zealand in the 36th America’s Cup final in Auckland in 2021. With Burling on board, Luna Rossa signals it’s building not just to contend, but to win.
While Burling’s arrival marks a new beginning for Luna Rossa, it also comes as the team turns the page on another era. Long-time helmsman Jimmy Spithill, who helped lead the syndicate in both the 2021 and 2024 campaigns, has confirmed he will not return for the 2027 America’s Cup. In the aftermath of Luna Rossa’s defeat in the last Challenger Final, Spithill indicated that his time in the Cup was over, calling it “an incredible ride” but signalling a shift in focus to other sailing ventures, including SailGP. His departure clears the way for a new generation of talent — with Burling now stepping into a pivotal role.
It hasn’t gone unnoticed that Peter Burling’s move echoes another pivotal moment in America’s Cup history — when Sir Russell Coutts, after leading New Zealand to successive victories, made the seismic shift to join Switzerland’s Alinghi. That decision not only changed the balance of power in the sport but reshaped the Cup landscape for over a decade. Like Coutts, Burling takes with him a deep understanding of New Zealand’s strengths, systems, and culture — and it remains to be seen whether this will be a similarly defining shift for the next generation of America’s Cup battles.
