Tauranga's Peter Burling has the early opportunity to stake his claim to be Team New Zealand's helmsman for the next America's Cup after being confirmed for the job on the tiller at this weekend's world series opener in Portsmouth.

When Dean Barker was sensationally axed as the syndicate's skipper, rising star Burling and Australian multihull specialist Glenn Ashby were named as co-helmsman with an eye to sorting out the pecking order in the leadup to the cup finals in Bermuda in 2017.

Peter Burling (left) and Australian multihull specialist Glenn Ashby have been busy sorting out Team New Zealand's new-look crew for the America's Cup world series opener in Portsmouth, England, this weekend. Photo: Hamish Hooper/Emirates Team New Zealand.

Ashby was also elevated to the sailing director's role and in that capacity he has selflessly handed the helm to 24-year-old Burling to start the next campaign.

That will see Burling taking on cup holder Jimmy Spithill (Oracle USA), his Olympic rival Nathan Outteridge (Artemis Racing, Sweden), Sir Ben Ainslie (Britain), Barker (Team Japan) and Franck Cammas (Team France) in a battle of wits over four races on the notorious Solent.

Burling will have Ashby at his side operating the wing sail on the foiling 45-foot catamaran. Burling's Olympic 49er team mate Blair Tuke will trim the front sails while veteran Ray Davies will be bowman and young Guy Endean the floater in a new-look crew to start a new era.

Ashby indicated that Burling was likely to stay on the helm for the following two world series regattas in Sweden in August and Bermuda in October.

Ashby, fresh off another podium finish in mulithulls with a third at the world Formula 18 champs in Germany, says it's crucial that Burling gains rapid experience.

"We need to give Pete as much time as we can at this stage of the game on the helm to get stuck into the racing side of things down the track. Hopefully it will work out well," Ashby said as his crew wrapped up a practice session in Portsmouth.

"We're still a long way out from the actual America's Cup. I need to give them every opportunity to learn and step forward and gain that knowledge. It will be important for the longer term.

"This type of sailing is different to sailing a 49er. There's no question about that … five guys to organise not two, it's a different boat.

"They haven't had a lot of experience sailing foiling multihulls at all compared to what a lot of the other guys have so we're trying to fast-track that process as quickly as we can.

"Right now it's about sharing the knowledge and getting them up that development ladder."

Team New Zealand, desperately trying to find the funds to stay in the game, haven't had a lot of time on the water compared to their main rivals. But Ashby likes the early signs of the dynamics within his crew.

"The vibe is absolutely fantastic and it's now about getting those onboard relationships going as quickly as we can. That does take time but we are certainly going well. I think the skill-sets that we have combined as a group will work together really well longer term."

The world series over the next two years will count in a small way in the qualifying system for the challenger series in Bermuda.

Team New Zealand has high standards but their lack of time on the water compared to Oracle, Ben Ainslie Racing and Artemis, puts them up against it in Portsmouth.

"I think you can throw an umbrella over those three teams and says they are going to be tough to beat," Ashby admitted.

The Kiwis have been concentrating on the water as much as their teamwork in training. The Solent, with it's radical currents and tide, is in the words of Ashby "one of the most tricky places to sail in the world".

AT A GLANCE:

America's Cup World Series

Where: Portsmouth, England

When: Overnight Saturday and Sunday (NZ time).

Who: Oracle Team USA, Emirates Team New Zealand, Ben Ainslie Racing (Britain), Team Japan, Team France, Artemis Racing (Sweden)

What: Racing in 5-man, foiling 45ft catamarans as start to buildup to Bermuda 2017

How: Two races each day. Each race expected to be about 20 minutes. Final race has double points

What's next: World Series continues in Gothenburg, Sweden (August 23-26) and Bermuda (October 16-18)