There’s perhaps no more astute observer of the America’s Cup currently than Grant Dalton. The Emirates Team New Zealand boss is even quite complimentary toward Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli Team and INEOS Britannia, which are staging a heavyweight fight for the right to face his two-time defending champion Kiwis in the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup match starting Oct. 12.
Maybe Dalton is softening just a little bit or perhaps he’s just enjoying how the plot line has unfolded off Barcelona, where he moved the regatta for what he said was the financial survival of ETNZ. Since sailing in the Preliminary Regatta and the Louis Vuitton Cup Round Robins, the Kiwis have been training on their own while keenly watching as the Louis Vuitton Cup Finals have progressed.
A few weeks ago, “Dalts” said the Kiwis feared Luna Rossa, which is co-helmed by Jimmy Spithill and Francesco Bruni. Whether that was sailing’s version of coach speak or his renewed respect for Max Sirena, you certainly wouldn’t have heard Dalton say that three years ago. Back in 2021, there was a rift between the Kiwis and Italians that was as hot off the water as it was on the water, where ETNZ prevailed 7-3 in the 36th America’s Cup match.
Dalton has also been hyper focused on the Brits as Sir Ben Ainslie’s crew has come on strong since finishing fourth in the Preliminary Regatta. Dalton lauded the significant contributions the British team has gotten from its partnership with Formula One team Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team.
But first, the Italians. There’s a long history between Dalton and Sirena, Luna Rossa’s team director and skipper; most of it good but in the last regatta, not so good. Dalton said a tiff between ETNZ as the defender and Luna Rossa as the Challenger of Record was so heated that his once-close relationship with Sirena became seriously damaged.
“I know that their game has lifted a lot and they’re a completely different mindset team than they were in Auckland,” Dalton says. “You know, that was just a combative bloody street fight, which they pretty much lost every time they tried to street fight. This time has been quite different. And frankly, the relationship, which was just burned, has completely reversed back to the way it used to be.”
Dalton, who is always straightforward and can be salty, said the “street fight” mostly concerned issues surrounding the protocol, rules and venue.
“In my opinion, it was just trying to use the influence of being major sponsor and Challenger of Record to re-tilt the deck, if you like,” Dalton said. “It is not like that anymore. It’s great. So, I think that makes them more dangerous. They’ve learned a lot, they’re quiet, they’re steady, they’re just getting on with their work. So, for that reason I think they’re very, very strong.”
After Luna Rossa withdrew from the 2017 America’s Cup, Sirena joined Team New Zealand in a management role. Dalton is pleased that their relationship has been patched up.
“As for INEOS, Dalton applauded team principal Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Ainslie for going “so deep” in having the Mercedes F1 team design their yacht. Dalton says INEOS Britannia is more of a threat than it was early on because of the “incredibly good” analytical tools provided by Mercedes have allowed it to improve and change as needed to speed up the boat.”
“It’s just happened,” says Dalton, 67. “We’ve known each other for a hell of a long time. And it’s just come back together again. We used to ride bikes together, etc., etc. I’m just pleased that it has gotten that way. As I walk into the Twilight Zone, you know, it’s nice to not leave enemies behind.”
So, will they ever ride bikes together again?
“I don’t know. If he beats us, I won’t want to ride bikes with him,” says Dalton with a chuckle.
Luna Rossa and INEOS had gone toe-to-toe until the British boat took a 6-4 lead in the first-to-7 series on October 2. The Italians had to retire from two races due to damage to their silver-hulled yacht, handing the points to the British.
As for INEOS, Dalton applauded team principal Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Ainslie for going “so deep” in having the Mercedes F1 team design their yacht. Dalton says INEOS Britannia is more of a threat than it was early on because of the “incredibly good” analytical tools provided by Mercedes have allowed it to improve and change as needed to speed up the boat.
“I also think that the team is sailing it a hell of a lot better. You know, if you have a fast car, but if you can’t drive it, it doesn’t make much difference,” Dalton says.
Dalton also says he’s felt for some time that INEOS Britannia partnering with Mercedes was the right approach. Ratcliffe is also a principal with the Mercedes F1 team.
“It’s 100 percent an F1 product. That boat was designed inside the Mercedes F1 team. There’s no naval architects buzzing around there,” Dalton says. INEOS had to start from scratch in developing its analytical tools, “So if they’ve made it that far in this cycle, they can go a long way in another cycle. If you can harness that into a yacht race, it’s going to be potent. And I think you’re starting to see that. So, win, lose or draw, the future is that way.”
