Career
He was awarded an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire in the 1995 New Year Honours, for services to yachting. He was shortlisted in 2001 by the International Sailing Federation for the ISAF World Sailor of the Year Awards. His other passion away from sailing is motor racing.
As an avid F1 fan and with life with Emirates Team New Zealand more settled than a round-the-world campaign, he can now race on the New Zealand motor racing circuit.
Offshore Racing Grant Dalton has raced around the world seven times. The first five as part of the Whitbread Round the World Race later to be called the Volvo Ocean Race.
This race has transformed itself during Grant"s involvement from a race of adventurers to a grand prix yachting event. Here is a list of his participation 1981-1982 Whitbread in Flyer II 1983 Southern Cross Cup 1985 Admiral"s Cup 1985-1986 Whitbread in Lion New Zealand 1987 Admiral"s Cup 1989-1990 Whitbread in Fisher & Paykel a Maxi Ketch designed by Farr Yacht Design 1991 Fastnet 1993-1994 New Zealand Endeavour 1997-1998 Merit Cup - Volvo Ocean 60 2001-2002 American Sports One - Volvo Ocean 60 designed by German Frers The race started on 1 January 2001 and finished on 3 March.
Club Medical broke several records along the way including the distance sailed in 24 hours (656 nautical miles) and the fastest circumnavigation (62 days and 7 hours).
He was called in to restructure and revitalise Team New Zealand after its loss of the America’s Cup in February 2003. Manx General Practice & Classic TT In 2014, at 57 years old, Grant entered the Manx General Practice as a newcomer, and also the F1 Classic TT, saying ‘I’ve done seven laps around the world and a few America’s Cups, but this is the most extreme thing I’ve ever done.’.
