Sailing can look forward to exciting times in the near future with the arrival of former Americas Cup competitor, the NZ82, before the end of next year.
Grant Dalton, managing director for Emirates Team New Zealand, was in Dubai over the past two days to confirm this start of a new era in sailing in the UAE.
The actual step will be taken some time in October 2005 when the NZ82 will be brought down from Auckland and retired permanently, most probably at the Dubai International Marine Club (DIMC).
"We had targeted to bring the boat down here in March. But now, we've set a fresh date of October, 2005," Dalton told Gulf News yesterday.
Dalton was on a two-day visit to the UAE, primarily to hold discussions with Shaikh Ahmad Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation and Chairman of the Emirates Group, the major sponsor of Team New Zealand for the Americas Cup 2007.
Dalton presented the trophy won by his team following the conclusion of the Acts in Marseille and Valencia, in October this year. "It's such a great opportunity to come here and brief Shaikh Ahmad on what we've been up to in the past six months," Dalton reflected.
"I'm so thrilled that Shaikh Ahmad is taking so much interest and knows exactly what we've been doing with the team," he added. "You can be sure the NZ82 will be in Dubai."
The next Americas Cup will be held in Valencia, Spain, and the teams have already started getting their act together for the 2007 competition. With the landing of the boat here, there is the likelihood of seeing Team New Zealand training in Dubai.
"Unfortunately, we've already got a full training programme charted out in Auckland and Valencia," Dalton said.
"However, if we were to win the Americas Cup [in 2007], then I would love to have some Acts in Dubai," he promised. In keeping with the rules governing the world's oldest sailing competition, a winner-takes-it-all policy is followed.
"The winner gets the chance to make the rules once he wins the Americas Cup. And I will be there to ensure that at least some of these Acts are staged here in Dubai. That's a pledge I make today," Dalton stated.
During his brief stay here, Dalton also met with Saeed Hareb, managing director of DIMC, to continue discussions on the youth development programme for sailing here.
"It has been a continuous discussion and I know that we can use the NZ82 here for a tie-up in conjunction with the youth programme," Dalton stated.
"The boat will be in Dubai and its purpose will be two-fold corporate work and youth development," he stated. With the NZ82 yacht making its way to Dubai, Emirates Team New Zealand have already acquired a new boat to continue training at their base in Auckland.
The German-built boat was placed on the Viaduct Harbour waters in Auckland for the first time on Friday.