On April 11th in Auckland SEO of ETNZ team Grant Dalton presented his club's campaign in VOR11/12 race. Financial support for the team is provided by Camper in the amount of 20 million euros. The team will perform under the auspices of the NZ Yacht Squadron and the yacht club of Palma de Mallorca.
The boat of the new team will be called Samper. But ETNZ branding elements will be used. The boat will be built by the famous Australian shipyard Coockson Boats.
The six-time participant and twice race winner Dalton himself said that most likely he will not take part in the race. His task will be to finance the team and select the participants. The estimated budget for the team's participation in the race is 25 million euros, that is, even with the support of Camper, there is some shortfall.
At the moment, according to Dalton, the position of the skipper is vacant. In the meantime, other teams are sorting out experienced New Zealanders. According to Dalton himself, a multiple VOR participant and Ericsson4 watch captain last season, Stu Bannatin, attracted Alinghi themselves. By the way, the announcement about the Swiss team's participation in the race is also not far off, according to Grant Dalton. Another New Zealander, a member of the winning team, Brad Jackson, is rumored to have received the PUMA team, whose participation in the VOR also recently became known.
So far, five teams have already confirmed their participation in the next VOR season. These are Italia70, Groupama, Ayre Challenge, PUMA, Camper/ETNZ.
