Statement by Grant Dalton

by Grant Dalton on 23 Apr 2003 Statement by Grant Dalton, newly appointed managing director of Team New Zealand.

My immediate priority is to retain core people. I have started this process and it should be completed within a few days.

I am pleased to announce that Dean Barker has given me a commitment to stay with Team New Zealand as skipper. That is a very important starting point for the job that lies ahead over the next four years.

Ross Blackman will continue to lead the business of Team New Zealand and Tony Thomas will continue his involvement in fund raising. Tom Schnackenberg will also stay with the team. Tom has been involved with the America’s Cup for 20 years and I am pleased he has agreed to continue. Retaining their expertise and experience is, I believe, of paramount importance.

I still have much to learn about Team New Zealand but I am convinced that we can mount a successful challenge for the 2007 America’s Cup. We have a great depth of knowledge and experience and we can build from that established base. We have the continuing support of many sponsors and there is no doubt that the New Zealand public is still behind the team.

A successful Team New Zealand is important for New Zealand. Holding the America’s Cup made Auckland the sailing capital of the world. It projected an image of New Zealand that promoted high-value tourism; it was good for our boat design, building and refurbishing industry. It was good business for the companies that provided goods and services to the syndicates and to the many thousands of people who came to watch the regatta.

Team New Zealand gave us all pride in our achievements against the best in the world and I feel privileged to be involved.

For more information:

Warren Douglas Phone +64 9 521 7446 Mobile 64 21 832 304
chaucerpartners@clear.net.nz




Grant Dalton

Nationality: New Zealand
Married, three children
D.O.B.: 1 July 1957
Occupation: Professional yachtsman
Lives: Auckland, New Zealand
BRIEF SAILING HISTORY
More than 375,000 nautical miles of ocean racing.
1981/82: Whitbread on the Dutch maxi Flyer II. This was his first taste of victory in this race.
1983: Southern Cross Cup / Australia, including Sydney / Hobart.
1985: Ocean Racing World Championship / Admiral´s Cup.
1985/86: Whitbread, watch leader on Lion New Zealand with skipper Sir Peter Blake.
1987: America´s Cup in Fremantle .
1989/90: Whitbread, skipper and project manager on maxi Fisher & Paykel.
1991: Fastnet, skipper of Passage to Venice (1st in elapsed time).
1992: Sydney-Hobart race line honours New Zealand Endeavour
1993/94: Victory in the Whitbread, as the skipper of the maxi New Zealand Endeavour.
1997/98: Second in the Whitbread as skipper of Merit Cup.2001: Winner of The Race as skipper the maxi catamaran Club Med, current fastest circumnavigation.
2001: First yacht to break 600 nautical miles in a day (Club Med) – to 656 miles in 24 hours.
2001-2002: Project leader of the two-boat Nautor Challenge for the Volvo Ocean Race and skipper of Amer Sports One. Third overall.