New Zealand has a relatively long history in the modern era of the America’s Cup. But while the country began competing for the Cup in 1986/1987, the current Emirates Team New Zealand can trace its roots back directly to the winning challenge in 1995.

Learning from earlier efforts, the 1995 Team New Zealand, led by Kiwi yachting legend Sir Peter Blake, ran one of the strongest campaigns in the long history of the America’s Cup. This team relied on Blake’s leadership and the steady hand of Russell Coutts on the helm to dominate the rest of the challengers, and sweep the America’s Cup Match 5 – 0.

For the first defence of the Cup in Auckland in 2000, Team New Zealand was again far too powerful a team for its opponents. Skipper Russell Coutts won the first four matches over Prada before handing the wheel over to his understudy, a 24-year old Dean Barker, who completed the sweep

But shortly after the successful defence, Russell Coutts, along with many others, left Team New Zealand for a new challenge with Alinghi. Barker, now skipper, was also thrust into a management role, as was designer Tom Schnackenberg. Perhaps to compensate for what was suddenly a young and relatively inexperienced sailing team, the Kiwis gambled on a radical new hull design.

The result was a disappointment. Alinghi, with Coutts at the helm, swept Team New Zealand 5 – 0 to take the Cup to Europe.

The re-born Emirates Team New Zealand, has many parallels with the 1995 team. Once again, a strong leader from the world of offshore sailing, Grant Dalton, has come in to lead the team. The Kiwis can boast some of the strongest sailors and yacht designers in the world, and come into the 32nd America’s Cup motivated to prove they are again a world class sailing team.

Emirates Team New Zealand finished third in Marseille before winning the second Louis Vuitton Act and placing second in Act 3. This was enough to secure the 2004 ACC Season Champion title.

Website: www.emiratesteamnz.com