America's Cup: Top young Kiwi match racers sign up with China Team

1:03 AM Thu 20 Oct 2011 GMT

'Phil Robertson (left) and Garth Ellingham - Waka Racing have joined China Team' ? China Team

Two top New Zealand match racers have signed with the China Team, which is competing on the America's Cup World Series and has entered the 34th America's Cup in San Francisco.

Phil Robertson and Garth Ellingham, who are both members of the Waka Racing Team, ranked tenth on the WMRT leaderboard for 2011. They will join China Team just in time for their participation in the upcoming China Cup regatta in Shenzhen (Oct 28-31, 2011).

Phil Robertson, has substantial sailing and match-racing experience through his development in the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron Youth training Program, to setting up and leading a match racing team called Waka Racing. Under the leadership of Phil, the Waka team won the Australia Cup in 2010. Robertson helmed the 2011 RORC season points winner, Tonnere de Breskens a Ker 46, in Cowes Week this year - taking third in their division.

Garth Ellingham also grew up through the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron Lion Foundation Youth Training program and joined Waka Racing three years ago as Mainsheet and Tactician. Is is a top small boat sailor having performed well in the Optimist and P-class, and is a former national champion in the highly competitive Starling class.

Waka Racing is currently the youngest team on the World Match Racing Tour.

It has not been announced as to their role on the AC45 catamaran which will compete in the third round of the ACWS in San Diego starting on 12 November.

by Richard Gladwell

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America's Cup: Top young Kiwi match racers sign up with China Team

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