Cup Hope in Culture

Team New Zealand can’t match billionaire Larry Ellison’s budget in the America’s Cup this year so it’s relying on sailing nous for what managing director Grant Dalton sees as a last chance to reclaim the trophy. “We’re unified as a team, we’re culturally strong,” Dalton said. “We can’t fight them on a money platform so we have to fight them on a culture platform.” Team New Zealand, the only commercial crew to have survived in the competition since 2007, is relying on sponsors including Emirates Airline, Omega SA, Toyota Motor Corp. and the New Zealand government to fund a challenge that can cost more than $100 million. They’ll contest the Louis Vuitton Cup from 7 July in San Francisco, with the winner of that regatta facing Oracle Team USA for the America’s Cup.