Co-Skipper/helm: Chris Steele (NZL)

    Co-Skipper/mainsail trimmer: Graeme Sutherland (NZL)

    Headsail trimmer: Shane Diviney (IRL)

    Foil Trimmer: Leonard Takahashi (NZL/JPN)

    Bowman: Josh Salthouse (NZL)/George Anyon (NZL)

    Current 2017 Series ranking: 5th

    The team has been formed to give New Zealand’s elite youth sailors a launch pad into the cutting-edge world of foiling multihull racing, and mixes previous Extreme Sailing Series competitors from the GC32 era and New Zealand’s finest fresh-faced youth sailors. Co-skipper and helm Chris Steele comes with valuable experience in the Series, having competed last season on board CHINA One and as skipper and helm of Act 8 wildcard team RNZYS Performance Programme on Sydney Harbour. Joining Steele as co-skipper and mainsail trimmer is New Zealander Graeme Sutherland, tactician on board Steele’s match racing team, 36 Below Racing.

    Irishman Shane Diviney returns to the Series as headsail trimmer, having made his debut last season. The youngest member of the crew is 18-year-old foil trimmer Leonard Takahashi, an accomplished New Zealand/Japanese 49er, Optimist and match racing sailor. Taking turns to work the bow will be Kiwi sailors Josh Salthouse, who crewed on board Steele’s winning 2016 New Zealand Match Racing Championship team, and George Anyon, 2016 Nespresso Youth International Match Racing champion.

    Facebook: Tawera Racing Team