Paul Lewis: Team NZ show great initiative

There are many in sport who make an impact. A few make a difference and an even rarer few actually change their sport.

Emirates Team New Zealand have joined that last, sparsely populated group, even as boss Grant Dalton heads overseas, looking for more money.

In conjunction with BMW Oracle and long time America's Cup yachting sponsor Louis Vuitton, Team NZ have taken a potentially life-threatening situation and turned it into an advantage.

It is now over two years since Alinghi successfully defended The Auld Mug against Team NZ in Valencia - the last on-the-water action before legal action slowly throttled one of the world's oldest and most prestigious sporting contests.

All other America's Cup syndicates either folded or went into hibernation apart from Alinghi, Oracle and Team NZ.

Both the former are headed by billionaires and, while Dalton and his team also have some support from a billionaire, Team NZ have still had to do it hard riding out the recession and the dearth of America's Cup action.

Their response was not to wait for the ripples from the upset within their sport to capsize them - they changed the nature of the ripples.

They helped cook up the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series which has now progressed into a world series.

All involved have been at pains to say the series is not replacing the America's Cup. But it is an alternative and the distinction, while subtle, is also significant.

Alinghi, while embroiled in their hideous legal battle with Oracle, can see the nascence of a competition which could take up the slack of a delayed or damaged America's Cup.

If the worst case scenario is avoided, the Louis Vuitton series is perfectly constructed to fit neatly within the America's Cup structure, possibly as the pre-regatta Acts held around the world under the Alinghi reign.

A holder other than Alinghi may be needed, however, if that seed is to flower.

But the point really is that Team NZ and their allies have reshaped the sport with a new event and series; changing the thinking within international yachting. It may not be without problems as they may yet be hoist with the sport's petard of bureaucracy. Yachting world bodies don't allow the term "world" to be used unless they sanction it.

However, in typical Kiwi style, the organisers have adopted the tactic of making the event successful first rather than waiting for permission to be granted.

Teams that previously faced a future of extinction or, at best, possible resuscitation at some later date suddenly have a focus and an outlet for their crews and sponsors.

It's an example of good, old-fashioned Kiwi innovation, No 8 wire mentality and the more modern attributes of contacts, networking, persuasion and force of personality.

It may yet be extended if Team NZ's interest in entering the Volvo round the world race takes root.

But the real value of the Louis Vuitton and Team NZ's role within it is that it could play a key role in keeping a great old event alive; even as it broachs new ground.

And if you think it's easy changing your sport - just take a gander at rugby, league and cricket in New Zealand; all subject to the powerful global forces of their sport and, as yet, unable to do anything as far-reaching.