An Open Letter to Grant Dalton
Dear Grant,
Thank you for taking all our hard earned tax payers money over the past years only to announce that you are heading offshore for your next America's Cup defense.
Your justification...it is the only chance you have of defending the cup. So it doesn't matter how much kiwis have invested in Team NZ so far, the loyalty and support we have shown you, and the innovation that has come from our great kiwi sailors, tacticians, designers and builders to make Team NZ what it is today?
You are now happy to head to Barcelona in the misguided belief that we think winning takes precedence over everything else. Yes, we all like winners but we also like loyalty, respect and giving back to those that have contributed so much.
Based on your reasoning, we should probably move all our sports teams offshore - the All Blacks to the Northern Hemisphere to compete up there, the Siler Ferns to Australia, and so on.
Grant, what you are doing is not the kiwi way. We want to see our team down here defending the cup. And we want to see local businesses which have been through hell because of Covid getting some pay back from all the time and money that has been invested in supporting Team NZ.
You have sold NZ down the river. Your reasoning is flawed and the decision is unethical. Ethics is knowing the difference between what you have a right to do and what is right to do.
Regards
Former Team NZ Supporter
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1 年I also would rather have a Team New Zealand loss at home rather than a win in Barcelona. In any event Dalton's reasoning is flawed. He says we couldn't afford to hold the event in NZ because the new boats are so expensive. He must think we are all idiots. NZ is the challenger of record. NZ decides the type of boat to be raced. Dalton could have picked a far less expensive boat. It is a shame that the Royal Yacht Squadron who is the challenger of record allowed itself to be dictated to by Dalton. JLV
Managing Director at Self employed for over 40years
2 年No consideration at all for the NZ public support over the years and he still has to find money to race the boat . What's that saying it's all about me an unbelievable man if only the truth came out about the real money ??
Advocacy, Social Services, Community Engagement
2 年You forgot to add, ' Don't come back or someone will sink you together with the boat at the waterfront lol
Director / Consultant Zoran Consultants Limited
2 年Yes this is a complete slap in the face for all those who have supported Team NZ right back to Peter Blake days who would never have done what you just did! Team work and loyalty are all part of the Americas Cup and in one flick of the pen you have just destroyed everything that winning the Americas Cup means! Don't you realize Team NZ was also made up of loyal NZers who have been backing you right from the beginning?
Solution finder, process optimiser
2 年Well said Tim. Your sentimentsl resonate with many New Zealanders