Butterworth boosts funds for rescues

Boaties who get into strife on Auckland waters this summer can thank Alinghi skipper Brad Butterworth for helping fund rescue efforts.

The Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust has tallied the $35,000 raised for the chopper as part of last weekend's Euroyacht fundraising regatta on the Waitemata Harbour, of which Butterworth was the star attraction.

The former Team NZ skipper, who lives in the Middle East, raced his 15m yacht Rainbow from the Ponsonby Cruising Club to Rangitoto Island and back towards the Floating Pavilion at Auckland's Viaduct against at least 20 other vessels. Four keen yachties had won spots on Trade Me to race alongside the yachtsman and his crew.

The line honours went to Wired, which was crewed by Fletcher Construction. The overall and handicap honours went to the crew aboard First By Far and second division handicap and line honours went to Laissez Faire.

Rainbow was "middle of the pack", said Westpac Rescue Helicopter spokesman John Hooper, which was impressive for the 111-year-old boat.

Butterworth auctioned off several items of Alinghi apparel with T-shirts going for up to $500.

Mr Hooper said the money raised would go towards the next 10 water-related rescues.

"With summer upon us these types of missions have already begun. We've seen three boat rescues over the last three weeks, one of which involved a winch job 20km off Raglan."

Mr Hooper said he was surprised at how down to earth Butterworth was.

"Brad was a very humble guy, really unassuming. I'm sitting there the morning of the event and he turns up with Hamish Ross, one of the solicitors for Alinghi, and these guys are carting off chilly bins and packed lunches, they're prepared to walk 1km away to their vessel."

Butterworth wanted to support the service because he was building a home on Waiheke Island and 40 per cent of their missions went there.

He issued a rare statement to the Herald before the race saying: "Yachties never know when we might need them, so it is great that we can give something back."