Yachting: Voyage to get Kiwis back on-board

Grant Dalton is trying to garner support for the Volvo Ocean Race from the public. Photo / Dean Purcell

The start of the race is still six months away, but already Team New Zealand's Volvo Ocean Race campaign is making history.

"I think it is the first time ever a Volvo boat has been launched on time and on budget," Team New Zealand boss Grant Dalton said.

A year on from the day Team New Zealand officially announced they would be competing in the round the world yacht race, skipper Chris Nicholson took the striking new Camper-sponsored yacht for its maiden sail on Auckland Harbour on Thursday.

"It's all gone together really, really well, which is a tribute to the marine industry here," Dalton said.

The yacht will be trialled next week off Auckland before it leaves on Easter Monday for a voyage down the east coast calling at five ports - Tauranga, Gisborne, Wellington, Dunedin and Lyttelton.

While there will be some sea-trial elements included in the journey, Dalton said the main purpose of the tour is to take the boat to the people and try to re-engage the New Zealand public with the race.

Throughout the 1980s and early-90s the event, formerly known as the Whitbread Round the World Yacht Race, enjoyed a huge following in New Zealand, as local heroes such as Dalton, Chris Dickson and the late Sir Peter Blake dominated the world of ocean racing.

Dalton said he would love to see Team New Zealand garner the same level of support as he enjoyed in those heady days.

"We want to take it back to what we used to do when we take the boat on tour and the public can climb on board, turn the winches and look at the electronics and push the buttons, so when people see the boat on TV they feel more connected with the boat and the team," he said.

"That sort of grassroots involvement with the public is one of the reasons the sport got that foothold in New Zealand."

But it has been a long time between drinks. The last time New Zealand had an entry in the event was in 1994, in which Dalton skippered the victorious New Zealand Endeavour challenge. Round the world races have since drifted out of the consciousness of the non-sailing public.

Dalton admits the Camper-backed campaign will struggle to get an "instant connect" with Kiwi sporting fans, but hopes they can build support though a strong showing in the early legs of the Volvo Ocean Race.

"Ultimately we need results to get the public on board."

Following the tour down the east coast, the Camper yacht will head straight out to sea from Lyttelton for a 2000 nautical mile voyage to qualify the boat to compete in the Volvo Ocean Race. As part of their build-up the team will also compete in the Auckland-to-Fiji race in June.