Former Olympic champion Jo Aleh has been named as one of four new faces joining Emirates Team New Zealand for their next America's Cup defence.
Aleh, along with established talents Seb Menzies and Josh Armit as well as up and comer Jake Pye, were announced this afternoon with Team New Zealand ramping up their preparations for the next defence in Naples in 2027.
It comes after the Class Rules for the 38th edition of the Cup were finally released last month, which included the stipulation that each AC75 would have five dedicated crew members with at least one female sailor required to be onboard as part of the crew.
Revealed: America's Cup defenders take to the water with new, untested group, watch on TVNZ+
Aleh – who was part of Team New Zealand for the Women's America's Cup in Barcelona last year and has been outspoken on female representation in sailing – told 1News this afternoon her selection was the first step in greater change.
"It's awesome they've taken this next step," she said.
"It's a quota system unfortunately but sometimes you need it – if something's going to change, you've got to start somewhere and I think this being a follow on pathway from the Women's America's Cup is a really cool step.
"Hopefully, in five to 10 years, it's normal. We've got to start somewhere and I'm happy to be part of it starting now."
The 2012 Olympic gold medallist added her new teammates weren't just seeing her as a number though.
"All women on boats struggle with a quota system – it's not how you want to get on a boat but I'm pretty clear with the team here that they want me for me and, yes, the quota helps me get into this but it's not what keeps me here.
"I just know that I want to prove that I'm worth my role on the boat anyway and I think it's an opportunity to open a door to get the experience to see what i can do."
Also joining the team with experience from Barcelona are Menzies and Armit, who were part of the Youth America's Cup.
![Jake Pye [L] and Josh Armit [R] review with Team New Zealand.](https://tvnz-1-news-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/jake-pye-l-and-josh-armit-r-review-with-team-new-zealand-LBUWIO3TXNFQPIXWQUO6LI6JQA.jpg?auth=cd230c4f4a42ac158357e99d5e7a23ad41a84cde94bded0de39fcdaa094ae88a&quality=70&width=767&height=431&focal=2348%2C1763)
Armit narrowly narrowly missed a medal at the Paris Olympics in 2024 with a 4th place on the IQ Foil while Menzies won the 2025 European Championships in the 49er class in June.
“We are learning so much off the more senior guys already," Menzies said.
"It is cool to be amongst them and getting stuck into the simulator and really looking forward to getting into the AC75. Just being able to sail the boat that defended the America's Cup is going to be a big thing, and I'm very excited about it.”
Rounding out the new recruits is 20-year-old Pye, coming off the back of two impressive podium finishes at the 2024 [2nd] and 2025 [3rd] Moth World Championships.
“It was pretty epic to get the call up," Pye said. "And great to know that the hard work had paid off at the Moth Worlds earlier this year. Now I am here.
"It is such a good atmosphere with a great bunch of people all striving towards one goal. I'm ready to push with this team as hard as I can.”

The quartet are part of what will be a new-look lineup for Team New Zealand, after parting ways with longtime helmsman Peter Burling earlier this year. Burling has since joined Italian syndicate Luna Rossa.
New skipper Nathan Outteridge said he was excited to see how the fresh faces go out on the water, having already worked with the team in the simulator.
"It is great to see the integration that's been happening since they have started," he said.
"We are trying to share the knowledge that we've got and create depth within the sailing team, which, so far, has been going really well and I can't wait for the sailing operations to start."
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