If the Act 4 match racing regattas was a learning experience for Emirates Team New Zealand, the five fleet races of Act 5 will be a little on the nerve-wracking side.

“Especially the starts,” says Grant Dalton. “Twelve 85ft yachts jostling for position at the start will be a great for the spectators but a nervous time for the crews. A collision before the start or rounding a mark is always a distinct possibility.

“That’s very much top of mind,” Grant Dalton said. “We are running out of boats and I don’t think flying another one to Europe would be an option.

But, Dalton says, the team is looking forward to the fleet races. We really enjoy being part of such a great spectacle.

Does that mean Dean Barker and the crew on NZL 82 won’t be mixing it before the start? “We go out to win and we’ll work for the best possible start – but we won’t go looking for trouble,” Dalton said.

“The team is performing particularly well in Valencia. We have lifted the game in every respect. At Marseille and Valencia last year they had never sailed together as a crew. They were discovering each other they performed beyond expectations. Now they’re a unit and show the benefit of five months of solid testing in Auckland.

Dalton said the team had learned a lot while competing in the Valencia match races. We can now clearly see the gaps and we will work doubly hard to bridge them. Last year we were concentrating on the big picture, Now we have the luxury of being able to look at the detail.

He said none of the races had been easy. I don’t subscribe to the theory that there is a big gap between the top four syndicates and the rest of the fleet. We had very tough races against Spain, Sweden and K Challenge.

The teams further down the rankings have only been going a short time.so there’s no surprises there. Give them time. We were weak this time last year,

Dalton said Valencia is shaping as a good venue for the cup. The facilities are coming on stream, bases are being built and the breeze arrives on schedule every day.

Share or bookmark this story: