Team New Zealand helmsman Peter Burling isn't getting caught up in the jibes between syndicates before the opening America's Cup series in Portsmouth this weekend.
Oracle's Jimmy Spithill fired a shot at NZ overnight for their handling of Dean Barker's dismissal but Burling is just looking forward to racing against a star-studded field.
"It's really cool to be honest to see all the great names that are lining up this week. Jimmy Spithill and Oracle and Dean [Barker] and Artemis [Racing] and its really cool to get the opportunity to test your skills against these good sailors," Peter Burling said.
It's the first regatta under the new leadership group with Burling at the helm and Glenn Ashby the sailing director and the crew are happy to get some experience under their belts.
"We're very realistic. A lot of these guys have spent a lot more time in the foiling 45s than we have so it's about us learning as much as we can and the end goal is always Bermuda and bringnin the Cup back to New Zealand," Burling said.
Burling is hoping to lay down a first marker in the practice sessions of the series overnight but that might be dictated by the conditions.
Burling's been kept on his toes by the ever changing winds near the English Channel.
The regatta starts with a practice session overnight.
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