Nationality rules to be tightened

Team New Zealand chief executive Grant Dalton has given the biggest indication yet that they will tighten the nationality rules for the next America’s Cup, while also taking a thinly-veiled swipe at his former skipper Dean Barker.

Of all the changes that are looming to the event following Team NZ’s triumph in Bermuda, eligibility of the competitors is set to be one of the hottest topics.

In Bermuda, only one of the six crew were required to be from the team’s country of origin, with Kiwi and Australian sailors dominating on board Oracle Team USA and Japan, while Swedish challenger Artemis had an Australian skipper in Nathan Outteridge.

Following a messy break-up with Dalton after the 2013 America’s Cup, Barker was courted by Sir Russell Coutts and Jimmy Spithill to head up the Japanese challenge, Oracle’s sister syndicate, which had just three Japanese sailors in the 11-strong sailing team.

Dalton is keen to impose some restrictions around nationality, although he dismissed reports that as much as 80 per cent of the crew would have to be home grown.

‘‘It’s no secret there will be [a higher nationality component] under us,’’ Dalton said.

‘‘It won’t be 80 per cent or anything like that but if you want to be Japanese you’re going to have to be Japanese.’’