15 Feb 2009

Dalton says Louis Vuitton series helped Team NZ culture

9:17 am on 15 February 2009

The head of Team New Zealand says his team's 3 - 1 finals victory over arch rival Alinghi in the Louis Vuitton Pacific sailing series in Auckland is important for keeping the squad together.

The team co-organised the event to fill the void created for the America's Cup community by an 18 month courtroom battle.

Team New Zealand's managing director Grant Dalton says with the next Cup perhaps two years away, the regatta played a big role for his team.

Dalton says culturally it was important as the team are off the payroll again now until mid-year when they move to a new campaign in Europe.

Team New Zealand launch a boat on Monday to contest a 52 foot series there.