At the Yanmar (Official AC Marine Sponsor) Press Conference in Barcelona last week, Grant Dalton, the America’s Cup CEO and manager for Emirates Team New Zealand, spoke about his somewhat surprising pre-match nerves…
‘In Jim Radcliffe and Ben Ainslie we have amazing people. If we, as Emirates Team New Zealand, had been able to pick our dream final, for lots of reasons, a year ago this would have been the dream final – I think as much as anything because of the relationship we have with that team, with every other team it isn’t friendly, but with this team it is. But also because of the history. I think about the All Blacks playing England, and that great rivalry really.’
‘There’s a sense that maybe Luna Rosa could have been a better story in that 500,000 Italians would have descended on Barcelona, but I think the historical story… is a better story. And you know, win or lose, with that team it will always be respect between the people in the team, so as I say, I am delighted that it’s INEOS.’
‘We’ve got a very light forecast, which is giving us a problem with the women’s America’s Cup as well. We don’t really know yet how they’ve improved in the light weather… the final of the Louis Vuitton was obviously in a lot of breeze, and they were quick.’
‘We’ve certainly improved massively, massively, since the round-robins. I think with team New Zealand with 2021, there was nobody within the team that was happy about the way that we sail.’
‘This is a totally different team. This is a way, way, way stronger sailing team in terms of it’s focus, it’s drilling, it’s planing, and I hope, it’s execution. So INEOS has certainly got a formidable Team New Zealand… It’s a completely different team this time.’
‘So all in all I think we’re in for a great match-up. I’m nervous. I’m just that sort of person, I’m hugely nervous, I don’t speak during the races, particularly in that two minutes and that last 30 seconds into the start.’
Dalton ended saying:
‘Well, you’re not nervous… but I am.’
While being shown round the INEOS Base by Britannia Cyclors Matt Gotrel and Neil Hunter, I didn’t hear any mention of nerves… quite the opposite. As these two America’s Cup athletes took the time to discuss their training routines, while giving a small group of us a behind the scenes tour, there was a calm and quiet confidence about the challenger of record’s camp.
Watching the final checks being made to the INEOS AC75, before the last practice dock out, I asked Matt Gotrel (Olympic rowing gold medalist, British SailGP Grinder, and two time INEOS Grinder turned Cyclor) about the atmosphere in the team, and how they were feeling the day before taking on the Kiwis…
Winning the Louis Vuitton cup wasn’t a surprise, he told me, in fact they knew they had a high ceiling and a boat full of potential. Looking down the barrel of the 37th America’s Cup final, with the weight of the cup’s history behind them, he explained, with conviction, they know what their British AC75 can achieve.
There’s certainly a mixture of emotions in Barcelona as the final racing commences… Will Emirates Team New Zealand continue their reign? Or are we to believe Grant Dalton’s nervousness, and take on Matt Gotrel and the INEOS team’s confidence… it’s all yet to come.
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