America's Cup- Ashby announces 2017 Cup intentions at Sail Melbourne

by Richard Gladwell on 4 Dec 2013
Emirates Team New Zealand's wingsail trimmer, Glenn Ashby (AUS) has announced that he will be staying with the New Zealand team for the next America's Cup.

The multiple world champion and Olympic Silver medalist was part of a four person, all Australian panel appearing at the ISAF Sailing World Cup Melbourne.

The four, Iain Jensen and Nathan Outteridge (Artemis), Ashby (Emirates Team NZ) and Tom Slingsby (Oracle Team USA) spent an hour in front of 290 guests discussing their Olympic and sailing achievements, and thoughts on the 34th and 35 America's Cup.

The event was a sell-out with a waiting list of over 200 would be guests missing out on the function.

Ashby disclosed that he had been approached by the Iain Murray led Team Australia, but that was too late, as he had already signed with Emirates Team NZ at that point.

'The chat I had with Iain Murray came too late,' Ashby said. 'I had re-signed with Emirates Team New Zealand. But like Tom (Slingsby) commented earlier, we all want to sail on an Australian team in the future. But unfortunately the timing didn't work out this time. There is some unfinished business with Team New Zealand.'

Another panelist, Tom Slingsby had already signed with Oracle Team USA for another campaign, and also expressed a keen desire to sail for and Australian America's Cup team in another Cup cycle.

When questioned as to their intentions, both Iain Jensen and Nathan Outteridge both kept their powder dry, saying they were waiting for the Protocol to be announced before making a decision. They are also believed to have received overtures from Team Australia, but weren't making any moves at this stage.