Spooner enjoys camaraderie of a team

By JULIE ASH

After a career in the Finn class, Team New Zealand main grinder Joe Spooner says it is good being part of a team.

"With the Finn you spend a lot of time on the water by yourself, but here there is a good camaraderie."

Spooner was a training partner to former Team New Zealand grinder and Olympic representative Craig Monk in the Finn class at the 1996 Olympic Games.

But Spooner's games campaign was cut short when he suffered head injuries in a serious assault which resulted in the loss of hearing in his right ear.

His injury ruled out any sport for 1997, but it allowed him to concentrate on his business degree.

In 1998, Spooner spent most of his time in the gym preparing for a return to sailing.

The following year, he joined New Zealand skipper Ross Field for some big-boat regattas in Europe.

He campaigned his Finn for a place in the 2000 Olympics, but was short of money and unable to afford much-needed competition in Europe.

He then went to the United States where he competed in some big-boat racing in the IMS worlds and several smaller races before joining Field's Newscorp for the first leg of the Volvo Ocean race from Southampton to Cape Town.

Spooner said comparing the ocean race to America's Cup racing was like comparing a marathon to a sprint.

"You just have to keep going and going."

Although his immediate attention is on defending the cup in February, Spooner, whose sailing career started at the Kohimarama Yacht Club when he was 11, said he would like another stint in the Finn class.

"I didn't really get to do it properly last time because I was studying.. So I would like to spend a season in Europe."

Joe Spooner - main grinder

Age: 29

Place of birth: Auckland

Career highlights:

2001: Volvo Ocean Race, leg one.

1999: Fastnet race.

1996: New Zealand Olympic yachting team.

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