BlackHeart ginger group pulls battle flag down

BlackHeart, the controversial group which focused attention on Kiwi sailors opposing Team New Zealand in the America's Cup, is making a tactical retreat.

The group's leader, David Walden, told the Herald last night: "We think BlackHeart has made its point and it's time to move on."

Prominent figures in the group's launch included talkback hosts Murray Deaker and Bill Ralston and former National Party president Michelle Boag.

BlackHeart had tried to portray itself as pro-Team New Zealand rather than anti-anything but it could not escape criticism as Alinghi sailors, who include Russell Coutts and Brad Butterworth, became targeted by a mystery, threatening letter campaign.

"Despite all attempts to distance ourselves from these alleged threats ... mud sticks and BlackHeart's core purpose [of building a home-ground advantage for Team New Zealand] has been hijacked," he said.

"It's been suggested we should go away and, yes, we will withdraw from the media circus, which is distracting to everyone.

"We will pull our heads in, but we will not go away."

Mr Walden said a website would continue to publish "facts that we think are important" but BlackHeart would not make public comments, or be drawn "into the spin from the challenger's well-oiled public relations machine.

"BlackHeart will from today adopt a low profile, keep a watching brief and ask all our supporters to remain staunch and true to Team New Zealand."

Alinghi, led by Coutts, lead Oracle, led by Chris Dickson, 2-0 in the Louis Vuitton challenger finals for the right to race Team New Zealand for the America's Cup.

nzherald.co.nz/americascup

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