| Grant
Dalton — a mission in Valencia
Known for his exploits from over two decades
in round-the-world yacht racing, Grant Dalton has turned
his attention to match racing and the America’s Cup.
Called to restructure and revitalise Team
New Zealand after its loss of the America’s Cup in February 2003, Dalton’s
mission is to win back the Cup in 2007.
He thrives on the challenge of creating
a campaign, creating and managing a team, attending to sponsorship
and marketing demands and running the business.
He has approached the task as managing
director of Emirates Team New Zealand by retaining and recruiting
key people in every area of the team’s operation and
harnessing the creative energy for which the team is renowned.
Following a successful regatta series
in Europe in September and October 2004 and the completion
of the summer testing programme in Auckland, he is confident
that Emirates Team New Zealand is on track.
Dalton gives key people responsibility
for important aspects of the programme but he oversees the
project in great detail.
While he enjoys the business life (he is an accountant by
trade), he lives for the racing. Life is somewhat different
with Emirates Team New Zealand and the America’s Cup. “But
it’s still yacht racing. There’s a need for team-work,
co-operation and courage which can mean the difference between
winning and losing.”
Aged 47, he sets a punishing pace, juggling
his international travel and management responsibilities
with full participation in the team’s sailing programme.
Grant has long had a passion for motor
racing, being an avid F1 fan and with life with Emirates
Team New Zealand more settled than a round-the-world campaign,
he is making time to race on the New Zealand motor racing
circuit.
Grant Dalton has raced around the world seven times. His
first was the 1981-82 Whitbread on board the winning Dutch
yacht Flyer II. His most memorable circumnavigation was
the 62-day winning sprint around the world as skipper of
Club Med. That race started Jan 1, 2001 and finished on
March 3. Club Med broke several records along the way including
the distance sailed in 24 hours (656 nautical miles) and
the fastest circumnavigation (62 days and 7 hours).
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