A string of consistent performances on the world stage has seen a number of Tauranga sailors called up to bolster Yachting New Zealand's high performance team.

Yachting NZ have confirmed 15 crews in the NZL Sailing Team for what will be a crucial year in the build-up to the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Blair Tuke and Peter Burling will represent New Zealand in the 49er class.

All are chasing the ultimate goal of Olympic glory in 2016, but selection comes first and 2015 is crucial in terms of demonstrating form through results on the world stage.

Back from 2014 are 12 crews, while Sara Winther (Laser Radial), Michael Bullot (Laser) and Jon-Paul Tobin (Men's RS:X) all return after demonstrating their commitment to the Olympic goal with top results last year.

Tauranga Yacht and Power Boat Club members Peter Burling, Molly and Sam Meech, and Thomas and Jason Saunders have all been included in this year's squad.

Burling will continue his formidable partnership with Blair Tuke in 49er and Molly Meech teams up with Alexandra Maloney in the 49erFX. Burling and Tuke took out the men's division, while Meech and Maloney were second at the national 49er championships in Auckland.

Sam Meech and Thomas Saunders have both been included in the Laser division, and Gemma Jones and Jason Saunders in the Nacra 17.

Meech finished ninth at both the 2014 Laser World Championship and 2014 Olympic Test Event, in Rio. Thomas, in the Laser World Championships, finished 20th.

Jones and Saunders placed fifth in the 2014 Nacra 17 World Championship.

All crews will be competing in the 2015 Oceanbridge Sail Auckland - the country's premier Olympic and Paralympic classes regatta - which begins today and runs until Sunday.

Following the event, each will embark on their own pre-planned programme of international competition for 2015, with highlights including the ISAF Sailing World Cup Regattas and World and European Championship Regattas.

Last year New Zealand was one of only three nations to secure national qualification for an Olympic berth in all 10 sailing events to be contested at the Rio 2016 Games through their results at the 2014 ISAF Sailing World Championship in Santander, Spain.

'To have qualified in all 10 classes so early is an enviable position to be in," says Yachting New Zealand high performance manager Jez Fanstone.

'And now the NZL Sailing Team crews will be acutely aware that Olympic selectors will be keeping a keen eye on their performances at the major international regattas this year.”