Slick as Shoeby

James Boyd speaks to Team Tyco's skipper about the Volvo and his America's Cup plans

mfs: What about your plans for the America's Cup?

KS: I signed up to OneWorld about a year and a half ago. I've been pretty quiet about that because I wanted to concentrate on what we're doing here. I go home and start with them on 1 July. I'm really looking forward to going home. I've been there about three months in the last two years. It's time to go home.

I'm tied up with the Cup until March next year. I've got to wait and see what Volvo comes up with and see what the future comes up. There's a lot of talk of change in the air.

mfs: How do you think the America's Cup will pan out?

KS: It's going to be a pretty amazing regatta for sure. As I say the pressure is going to be on from day one. You can't afford to have breakdowns or a bad race. If you look at them on paper it is very hard to distinguish between any of them. They've all got strong background whether it is with the people or the design.

mfs: Why aren't you going back to Team New Zealand?

KS: I'm still good mates with them. I've got two guys from TNZ on board right now. So I left there on good terms. We all agreed that I wanted to take up this opportunity for the next two years which didn't quite fit with their plans and they realised I needed to do something when I came back .

mfs: How do rate Team New Zealand this time round?

KS: They'll be strong. They've got such a strong base of technology that they've maintained. It the younger end of the team, but it's still a strong team. They've sailed longer and more than anyone so far. They're just a polished act and they will be very hard to topple off. Once again it will be a matter of them missing out on the race experience of a Louis Vuitton final which in fact didn't to come up to play for much last time, but it could do this time.