Dalton favours shorter Auckland regatta

Photo: Chris Cameron

Team New Zealand racing in the Louis Vuitton Trophy in Nice.

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TEAM NEW Zealand boss Grant Dalton has a knack for cutting down to size anything in his path.

His latest target is the Louis Vuitton Trophy.

The Kiwi America's Cup syndicate is sailing in the series in France and Dalton, speaking while cycling down a boulevard in Nice yesterday, told the Sunday Star-Times the regattas need to be shortened.

"Originally the aim was to have them about two weeks long, spaced over three weekends," he said.

"For this one we had six days of practice before the racing actually started as well. It's too long to be away from home.

"The other regattas we sail in are not this long. So that's something I think needs to change and I will work on changing."

That news will be greeted with lukewarm enthusiasm back in Auckland, the next stopover in the circuit (in March) before it breaks ground in new territories in Asia, America and Spain.

When it was held in the city of sails this year, it was known as the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series and was considered a giant success. The sailing fraternity have been looking forward to its return ever since.

They may want more racing, but Dalton's move to shorten it may be in everyone's best interests.

Glamour syndicates Alinghi and Oracle probably won't come back to Auckland, and if they do, it will be in name only. Both syndicates will sail in a Deed of Gift challenge for the America's Cup at about the same time in Valencia. Their obvious preoccupation means they will send B teams at best.

But again, that may not be bad news for local sailing fans.

Although there's room for further litigation after the best of three challenge is raced, both syndicates have, after nearly three years of sustained squabbling, exhausted their last legitimate legal options.

"Who knows what they have left in their box of tricks in a legal sense," said Dalton. "But there is a pattern being established by the court, and the judge is trying to get this situation resolved on the water in February. After that, we hope the winning team states its intentions for the future of the event.

"But again, who knows where it will end up. We have our own fight on our hands."

Team New Zealand was yesterday locked in a tense battle in the semifinals of the Louis Vuitton Series in Nice.

Skipper Dean Barker, as top qualifier, chose to sail against Synergy in the best of three semifinals.

The Russian syndicate was proving no pushover. Barker won race one, but after both boats came into contact, the Kiwis were ordered to complete a penalty turn and lost race two.

The result was later overturned on protest as both teams were deemed to be at fault and each was stripped a point. That meant the winner of this morning's sail-off graduated to the final.

- © Fairfax NZ News