Yachting: Vindication of work brings tears to grinder's eye

By SUZANNE McFADDEN

Tough-guy grinder Andrew Taylor was in tears yesterday - but not because he was left off the boat in the final race of the America's Cup.

Taylor has sailed in every America's Cup since New Zealand's first effort in 1987 - the only man in the Team New Zealand crew to do so.

But yesterday he was asked by skipper Russell Coutts to step off the boat and give up his spot to fellow grinder Chris Ward.

"It was tough," said the 36-year-old Taylor, his face stained with tears. "The only consolation was that Russell came up to me this morning and said we were both standing down.

"If it had been only me, it would have been really hard."

But Taylor, an emotional guy when it comes to the Cup, cried when he talked about the 13 years of effort that New Zealand had made to get this far.

"I am just so proud of my team," he said, hugging his daughter Valentina.

"All this says something about our programme and what we have been doing for the last five years. To all those critics who said we wouldn't do well because we didn't have a defender series - we have let the results do the talking."

As the boat arrived at the dock after a long procession home, Taylor was met by his friend, Prada grinder Massimo Galli. The pair swapped jackets - a tradition which began eight years ago, when Taylor was on board NZL20, Galli on Il Moro di Venezia.

"I've still got Max's Il Moro jacket hanging in a special place in my wardrobe," he said.

"We are enemies on the water but best mates off - that's one of the best parts of the America's Cup."

There was no talk of retirement from Taylor yesterday - or from any of his team-mates.

Tactician Murray Jones' simple answer to the question of quitting was "Why?"

"When it's this good, why not come back for more. It doesn't get any better than this," he beamed.

Bowman Dean Phipps, who sailed through the regatta with tendon trouble in his arms, said he would "see what I have left in me" before putting his body on the line again.

"I think us old guys need to stay around and give the younger guys a bit of a push," he said.

"You saw the start of it today when Deano was at the wheel. That's our future.

"But we need to stick around to keep those guys honest."

The sight of Barker driving the boat yesterday may also be a sign that Coutts' days at the wheel are over.

Coutts had always talked of Barker sailing in the Cup in the future - his chance came earlier than expected. Coutts is expected to take on an administrative role - perhaps slipping into the shoes of Sir Peter Blake.

"It's early days to be talking about it," Coutts said. "I will still be involved in the sailing side of things. I will still sail internationally."