Pace teams up with New Zealand

Bertrand Pace, who skippered France's challenge for the last America's Cup, is jumping ship to join the winners, Team New Zealand. Pace, who captained the French boat 6 Sens to the Cup semi-finals in Auckland earlier this year, plans to move to New Zealand within the next month to satisfy Cup nationality requirements before the next Cup in March 2003.

Bertrand Pace, who skippered France's challenge for the last America's Cup, is jumping ship to join the winners, Team New Zealand. Pace, who captained the French boat 6 Sens to the Cup semi-finals in Auckland earlier this year, plans to move to New Zealand within the next month to satisfy Cup nationality requirements before the next Cup in March 2003.

"I am very pleased and excited to join the defending team," Pace said after a meeting with New Zealand skipper Dean Barker to finalise the deal. "Our in-house racing is the most important part of Team New Zealand's preparation and with Bertrand signed on I am looking forward to the toughest challenge we can set ourselves," Barker said.