Seb Menzies was eight years old when his father signed him up for sailing, reportedly without mentioning it to him first. Nobody in that moment could have predicted that the sport would one day place him at the helm of an AC75, representing Emirates Team New Zealand at the 2027 America's Cup.
That future is now firmly in view. Menzies has been identified as one of the sailors Emirates Team New Zealand is shaping for its next campaign, named as a co-helm candidate aboard the team's AC75, Taihoro. His rise through competitive sailing has been swift and well-decorated, anchored by victory at the 2025 49er European Championship, multiple Yachting New Zealand awards, and a nomination for the 2025 World Sailing Young Sailor of the Year.
He joined the Emirates Team New Zealand programme in late 2025 and quickly became embedded in its daily operations. Simulator sessions, time on the AC40, and exposure to the AC75 setup have all been part of his introduction to the team environment. "We are learning so much off the more senior guys already," he said. "Just being able to sail the boat that defended the America's Cup is going to be a big thing."
The jump in scale and speed has been substantial, yet Menzies has moved into the programme without hesitation. Helm time on the water has already featured in his early weeks, though the emphasis at this stage remains deliberate. "We're just working on pushing the boat and going through the process of it," he said. That measured approach reflects a pathway constructed carefully across nearly a decade of competition.
His first significant result came at the 2017 Optimist national championships, which he won. A year later, sailing alongside Blake McGlashan, he claimed the 420 World Championship against a fleet of 167 boats, a result the pair backed with a silver medal in 2019. Later that same year he added the Youth Sailing World Championship to his record, cementing his reputation as one of New Zealand's most promising young sailors.
The transition into faster and more technical equipment was direct. A European championship in the 29er class in 2022 led him to the Olympic 49er, where he now campaigns alongside crew George Lee Rush. Their win at the 2025 European Championship sits at the heart of a programme pointed at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
Beyond skiff racing, Menzies has pushed into foiling, finishing fourth at the 2024 Moth World Championships. That blend of high-performance skiff credentials and foiling experience is precisely what the modern America's Cup demands, and Emirates Team New Zealand is drawing on both as it develops the next generation of sailors within its setup.
The team's approach to that development is considered rather than rushed. Sailors coming through the system are given time to build genuine familiarity with the boats, the controls, and the broader demands of the role before they are expected to lead. Menzies is now working within that structure, gaining experience alongside established driver Nathan Outteridge as preparations for the 2027 campaign continue to take shape.
