SLAM x ETNZ38thAMERICA'S CUP

Jo Aleh is one of New Zealand’s most accomplished sailors, bringing her Olympic pedigree and technical expertise to Emirates Team New Zealand’s Cup programme. She competed as a helm in the inaugural Women’s America’s Cup in 2024, showcasing her adaptability to high-performance foiling after transitioning from a decorated Olympic career in the 470 class. 

Jo is best known for winning Olympic gold in London 2012 and Olympic silver in Rio 2016, achievements that cemented her status as one of the country’s most respected athletes. A multiple World Championship medallist and long-time leader within the New Zealand sailing community, Jo continues to help shape the next generation of high-performance sailors while contributing her experience to the top tier of the sport. 

Josh Armit emerged as one of New Zealand’s most promising youth sailors when he won gold in the Laser Radial at the 2018 Youth Sailing World Championships. After transitioning into the wind foiling discipline (iQFOIL), he quickly established himself as a top contender, securing several top ten finishes in major international events, winning national titles, and earning selection to represent New Zealand at the 2024 Paris Olympics. 

In 2024, Josh joined the wider Emirates Team New Zealand sailing squad as a member of the Youth team. As part of the main sailing team preparing towards the Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup, he brings his foiling experience and competitive drive to the campaign. 

Erica Dawson was part of the inaugural Women’s America’s Cup in Barcelona in 2024, where she served as reserve trimmer on the AC40. Hailing from Murrays Bay in Auckland, she is the only female athlete to ever win the Starling National Championships. After junior classes Erica moved into Olympic class yachting, initially helming in the 49erFX and then switched to crewing the highly technical foiling Nacra 17 with Micah Wilkinson.  The pair qualified for the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2021 where they finished 12th and then went on to win a bronze medal for New Zealand at the 2024 Paris Olympics. 

Chris Draper is a highly experienced and versatile sailor whose career has spanned Olympic success, world-class match racing, and strategic leadership roles in multiple America’s Cup campaigns. 

Chris won Olympic bronze in the 49er in Athens in 2004 and later became helmsman for Luna Rossa Challenge, where he was the first Brit to helm in the Louis Vuitton Cup Final for the 34th America’s Cup. Chris went on to serve as Sailing Team Manager, Tactician, and Wing Trimmer for SoftBank Team Japan during the 35th America’s Cup in Bermuda, and his high-performance expertise continues to influence top-level foiling globally. 

Iain Jensen brings deep high-performance sailing experience to Emirates Team New Zealand. A gold and silver medallist in the 49er class at the Rio 2016, and London 2012 Olympic Games alongside Nathan Outteridge, Iain has competed at the very top of the sport for well over a decade. 

He has been part of multiple America’s Cup campaigns with the British and Swedish syndicates before and contributed across a range of roles that draw on his tactical understanding, boat-handling skill and calm, methodical approach under pressure. His versatility and racing instincts continue to be valuable assets as the team prepares for the next America’s Cup cycle. 

Andy Maloney has been part of Emirates Team New Zealand’s sailing squad across three America’s Cup winning campaigns (2017, 2021 and 2024), serving as a Flight Controller. He rose through dinghy and keelboat classes, winning the prestigious Finn Gold Cup in 2019, before bringing his technical expertise to the foiling world of the Cup. 

Having entered the America’s Cup world through the Youth America’s Cup in San Francisco in 2013 and coming away with a win, Andy has been a constant in the team and continues to play a major role in the team’s ongoing campaign for the Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup, blending deep New Zealand sailing roots with cutting-edge high-performance racing. 

Seb Menzies is an emerging talent in New Zealand sailing who has quickly earned his place on the big stage. He was the youngest member of Emirates Team New Zealand’s youth sailing squad during the 2024 Youth America’s Cup and has already accumulated an impressive junior résumé, including gold at the 2026 49er World and European Championships alongside George Lee Rush. 

Recognised for his outstanding talent and trajectory, Seb, together with George, has been nominated for 2025 Youth Sailor of the Year, underlining his role as one of the future pillars of the team’s 2027 America’s Cup campaign. 

Nathan Outteridge brings a remarkable pedigree to the team’s quest for the America’s Cup. A gold medallist at the 2012 London Olympics and silver medallist in 2016 in the 49er class, Nathan has also competed in multiple America’s Cup campaigns, including as helmsman for Artemis Racing in 2017, before joining Emirates Team New Zealand for the Cup in 2024. 

In May 2025 he was officially named skipper of Emirates Team New Zealand for the defence of the Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup, combining his tactical insight, foiling expertise and calm leadership to guide the team’s next chapter. 

Jake Pye, at just 20 years old, is the youngest member selected for Emirates Team New Zealand’s sailing team as the campaign builds toward the Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup in Naples. 

Jake joins the lineup after standout performances in the Moth class, with podium finishes at the 2024 (2nd) and 2025 (3rd) Moth World Championships, marking him as a rising star in foiling yacht racing. His selection into the team underscores the team’s commitment to blending emerging talent with experience and ambition. Jake is ready to train, compete, and push for excellence alongside New Zealand’s elite sailors. 

Lena Sanderson is an experienced foiling sailor with strong results across youth and international classes. Her achievements include winning the U21 Women’s title at the 2023 Waszp International Games, podium finishes at the U23 Nacra 17 WorldChampionships, and top results at Youth WorldChampionships. She also holds a BSc in Environmental Sciences, reflecting her passion for the ocean beyond racing.

Blair Tuke is one of New Zealand’s most decorated sailors, most recently helping Emirates Team New Zealand secure their America’s Cup victories in 2024, 2021, and 2017 as a key member of the afterguard, specialising in flight control and foil trimming. Blair entered the America’s Cup as part of the Youth team during the 34th America’s Cup in San Francisco, where the NZL Sailing Team won the inaugural Youth America’s Cup. 

Before his success in the Cup, Blair, together with long-time sailing partner Peter Burling, dominated the 49er class, winning multiple World Championships and capturing Olympic gold in Rio in 2016 after earning silver in 2012 in London, and another silver in Tokyo in 2021. Beyond the racecourse, Blair is deeply commited to protecting the marine environment. 

Serena Woodall is a highly accomplished sailor across match racing and foiling disciplines. She finished 2nd overall on the 2023 Women’s Match Racing Tour and was runner-up at the 2022 Women’s Match Racing World Championship as main trimmer and tactician. Serena has also competed at the cutting edge of foiling as a flight controller, including podium finishes at the Youth Foiling Gold Cup Grand Final, and was part of the team awarded 2023 Yachting New Zealand Female Sailor of the Year.