Slater revels in mateship and thrill of the challenge

By JULIE ASH

Hanging from the mast is probably not most people's idea of fun, but for Daniel Slater it is just a typical day at the office.

"I go up the mast during the course of the race looking for wind and communicating with the tactician and strategist down on the deck, and giving an opinion as to where the wind is and what side of the course we should be," he says.

Slater joined Team New Zealand in October 2000 after the Sydney Olympics, where he finished eighth in the 49er class.

"I suppose it is like any young sailor who grew up during the time New Zealand first challenged for the America's Cup. It is the pinnacle of sailing.

"I had always wanted to do Olympic sailing and I'll probably go back and do that again."

Slater started sailing when he was 10 at the Murray's Bay Sailing Club.

"I sailed dinghies all the way through. When I left school I became a fulltime sailor doing an Olympic campaign in the Lasers for the 1996 Games. I lost the Olympic trials on a countback to Hamish Pepper [also of Team New Zealand]. "After that raced in Sydney in the 18-footer circuit before getting into the 49ers in 1997."

When asked what he likes and dislikes about his job at Team New Zealand, Slater replies: "The worst is the hours and the best is the camaraderie between the guys. All the guys are mates."

And like everyone in the team, Slater cannot wait for the day they line up against the best challenger.

"We have got a lot to do between now and February," he admits. "We are not ready to race just yet, but all things are ticking along."

Daniel Slater - traveller

Age: 26

Place of birth: Auckland

Nickname: Smoothie

Career highlights:

2000: First 49er Olympic Grade 1 events in Britain and Germany, and 49er Olympic Regatta, Sydney, representing NZ

1996: Laser Olympic trials (second to Hamish Pepper)

1994: First Laser youth world champs.

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