Yachting: Dalton's rescue mission pays off (+photos/audio)

Team New Zealand syndicate leader Grant Dalton (R) lifts the Louis Vuitton Cup trophy with skipper Dean Barker. Photo / Reuters

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Team New Zealand tactician Terry Hutchinson said it was nice to be able to reward the team's hard working boss Grant Dalton with a dominant performance against Luna Rossa and a place in the America's Cup match.

Dalton was called in to take over Team New Zealand following the disastrous 2003 defence.

Four years later the round-the-world yacht race veteran has gone a long way towards restoring the nation's pride in yachting.

"I think you have to realise that this programme would not exist without Dalts," Hutchinson said.

"Everything that he has done for the team. It is nice to be able to reward him in the manner that we did. He has worked the hardest out of everybody without question."

Team New Zealand skipper Dean Barker echoed Hutchinson's praise.

"Anyone that knows Grant knows his work ethic, He starts first in the morning and he is last to leave at night. He is there everyday.

"He puts his job before his family most of the time. He is 120 per cent committed to making this team successful. He just gets there through sheer hard work."

Barker said Dalton's attention to detail rubs off on the whole team.

"I never cease to be amazed by the things that he sees. We tow in, we'll be parking the boat at the dock and he'll be yelling at someone on the dock about the way the fenders (which are used to stop the boat rubbing against the dock) have got a little bit of green growing on them.

"It is the details that everyone misses that he is all over."

Dalton sails on the boat as a floater and is involved in putting up and taking down sails.

"He loves it," Barker said.

"The best thing for us is he is on the boat because he would be a pain in the arse if he wasn't."

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