From silver ferns to blue berets Although they’re similar in some respects, it might be difficult to find two more disparate cultures among the 12 teams than between K-Challenge and Emirates Team New Zealand.

The Kiwis are well known for being the strong, silent types. If they wrest the Auld Mug back from Alinghi in 2007, you’re unlikely to see many tears on the podium. Don’t doubt the Kiwis’ passion, but don’t expect them to wear their hearts on their sleeves either. As for K-Challenge, should they realise their dream of raising the Cup, expect tears - floods of them.

Cameron Appleton is better qualified than most to draw comparisons between the teams. Last time in Auckland, the young Kiwi was tune-up helmsman for Team New Zealand. This time he’s providing valuable experience at the back of the French boat. Well actually, it shouldn’t be forgotten that the K-Challenge boats are in fact Kiwi boats, the ones that Team New Zealand built for their successful defense in 2000.

(©ACM(2005)/Photo: © Bruce Jarvis)

Appleton comments on the different approaches of the teams: “In Team New Zealand, they’ve got a model that’s worked for so long that they can just pick up where they left off. In K-Challenge we’re starting from scratch and working within budgets so it’s very different. We’re fortunate to have one of Team New Zealand’s old boats to race, and we’ve optimized it for the way we sail it. But it’s still hard sailing an older generation boat against the newer boats.”

Attitude adjustment
Appleton admits he has had to modify his approach to the game: “Sailing with the French has been very interesting. They take things much more personally about the way they do their jobs and any mistakes they make. I’m used to working with a team that’s very thick-skinned. It’s not so much what I say, but the way that I say it that is probably the real key, and I struggle with that a lot of the time. I have to say it in the correct way, so that it gets the right reaction and also that it doesn’t offend anyone. Normally there’s no offence meant but the English to French translation can cause confusion.”

While Appleton has moved to a French team, an American has moved into one of the key roles at Emirates Team New Zealand. Tactician Terry Hutchinson has also had to adapt to a different culture. He is well known for wearing his heart on his sleeve, and making his feelings known in no uncertain terms. So how does that go down with the the less demonstrative Kiwis? “I think it’s good. It adds a little balance. They reel me in a little, and I bring them out a little. Sometimes their lack of emotion can be misinterpreted as people not really caring about things, which is never the case, because these guys are always giving 110 per cent.”