Team New Zealand bosses Grant Dalton and Kevin Shoebridge talk about what the team learned from the 2013 America’s Cup and how their plans are developing for the 2017 contest. At 1:45 into Part 1, Grant Dalton talks about the “lay day controversy” during the 2013 America’s Cup. He explains that Oracle also wanted to have a lay day on Monday 16 September 2014, so regardless of what ETNZ requested, there would not have been any racing on that day.
Dalton and Kevin Shoebridge talk about how Peter Burling and Blair Tuke bring young talent to the sailing team. They also talk about new recruits in the design team. Watch closely at 3:34 into Part 1. You’ll see mechanical engineer Neil Wilkinson, who was recruited to the ETNZ design team from Oracle. Neil helped develop the foil control system that prompted Kiwi journalists to speculate about an automated system on board Oracle’s boat.
In Part 2, Grant Dalton talks about having “a great group of sponsors who are all loyal.” He mentions that contracts won’t be finalized until the venue is known, but he “can’t see why any of them would say ‘no’.”