Tauranga Harbour will be swapped for Spanish waters next week as a strong contingent of Bay of Plenty sailors join the New Zealand sailing team at the ISAF Sailing World Cup Palma.

Alexandra Maloney and Molly Meech competing in 2013.

The team of 21 sailors in 14 crews will represent NZ in eight events at the regatta on the Spanish island of Palma de Mallorca. The six-day world cup regatta marks the start of the European season.

Amongst the NZ team is Sam and Molly Meech, Thomas Saunders and the Peter Burling, who continues his successful partnership with Blair Tuke in the 49er class.

In 2013 the Kiwis came away from this regatta with a three medal haul, including gold and bronze in the Laser class for returning sailors Andy Maloney and Sam Meech. Alexandra Maloney and Molly Meech won silver in the 49erFX in 2013 and are also back in Palma preparing for the 2014 edition.

'I am always buzzing to get back over to Europe this time of the year, and get back into racing against all of the best," says Andy.

"The thing that makes the Laser Class so appealing to me is the tight racing, this is what excites me about the class and I can't wait to get back into that competitive racing."

Maloney has seen his competitors, World No 1 Tonci Stipanovic, Croatia and World No 2 Tom Burton, Australia, take top honours at ISAF Sailing World Qingdao, Melbourne and Miami but as a consistent performer throughout 2013 he comes in ready and poised to strike.

"I am always confident that I can win any event going into it. I feel very prepared after three months training in New Zealand focussing on key areas to improve and am excited to line up against the other top guys again.”

New Zealand sailing team:

Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie – NZL Sailing Team (Women's 470) Paul Snow-Hansen and Daniel Wilcox – NZL Sailing Team (Men's 470) Peter Burling and Blair Tuke – NZL Sailing Team (49er) Marcus Hansen and Josh Porebski – NZL Sailing Team (49er) Ben Goodwin and Sam Bullock (49er) Alexandra Maloney and Molly Meech – NZL Sailing Team (49erFX) Josh Junior – NZL Sailing Team (Finn) Andrew Murdoch – NZL Sailing Team (Finn) Andy Maloney – NZL Sailing Team (Laser) Sam Meech – NZL Sailing Team (Laser) Thomas Saunders – NZL Sailing Team (Laser) Andrew McKenzie – (Laser) Gemma Jones and Jason Saunders – NZL Sailing Team (Nacra17) Natalia Kosinska – NZL Sailing Team (RS:X Women)

Coaches and support: Jez Fanstone, Nathan Handley, John Cutler, Hamish Willcox, Steve Erickson and Peter Evans.