Maksdaddy's Comments on The LV and America's Cup

ETNZ have a strong crew both experienced and more than up to the task. Grant Dalton has managed the crew superbly with Dean Barker at the helm we are looking much stronger than our defense campaign of 2003 which many like myself have put behind us and looking to the future for better and brighter things to come.

When I heard that Grant Dalton was to become CEO of Team New Zealand, I was exstatic, as it's his character, passion and drive which was what we needed in term's of defined leadership which was so lacked in 2003. His experience and management goes back to that of the 95 and 2000 campaigns under the watchful eye of Sir Peter Blake with a long standing history of sailing. His calibre of involvement sparked a new revival and trust that we could once again bring the America's Cup back to NZ shores. Widely respected in both sailing and as a kiwi, he was someone we could get behind with knowledge that he will do all in his prowress to successfully challenge Alingi as we know are a great threat now that BMW Oracle are out of the picture and Luna Rossa almost out of the picture, everything to this point is going according to plan, well my plan at least.

NZL92 is a fine boat in deed and holding up very well in light and strong winds showing perfect balance under the hands of a very tightly knit crew that know how to pull every knot of speed out of her, Marvellous. The advantage at this point over Luna Rossa is that we have more new sails to our disposal than they do which shall increase our ability to create speed where and when its required and too this we hope that there will be plenty left over for the match up against Alingi whom at this point are still training and refining their boat. At the time of the America's cup when they take to the line, they will find themselves fresh and up to the task to take on their challenger having not been exhausted by months of racing. ETNZ have now been racing solid for several months now, while there is a break between the final and the America's Cup Series there is still much preparation to be done by both teams. ETNZ will have the grip tight in the face they have sailed competetively now for 2-3 months and know exactly how the boat will operate in those conditions. However both team's and boats will face off soon and the decider will be who has the better balance.

Alingi - with the loss of Russel coutes their is much hope for us yet, however they still have a very strong team on board with Butterworth(top afterguard), Monk(was our top bowman) and Daubney(trimmer). Alingi are still to be feared and ETNZ are well aware of their capabilities as they are of ours and without a doubt they would be evaluating every race we've had and applied that to their strategy, this is the disadvantage we have so we have to be strong on the day and come up with a few surprises win the right of way and defend to the death.

It can be said that Alingi won't go quietly into the night and will force our hand at every opportunity to apply the pressure and hope we make a mistake. A penalty against us in the dial up would be catastrophic to say the least so we entrust that barker will continue to sail as he has done, conservatively with grit and determination for defense and attack at the opportune moment.