Don't count me out, says Coutts

By TERRY MADDAFORD and DAVID LEGGAT

Russell Coutts will fight all the way to sail in the 2007 America's Cup, despite being sensationally sacked by the Alinghi syndicate yesterday.

Coutts claims the rule change Alinghi boss Ernesto Bertarelli called for last week is aimed at keeping him, as the Cup-winning helmsman, out of the next regatta.

The "180-day rule" precludes any Cup crewman who has sailed for more than that time in either training or racing from switching syndicates.

Speaking to the Herald from Portugal last night, Coutts said, "I'm a pretty determined guy," adding: "I certainly want to do the America's Cup again."

Asked whether that meant the Cup after next, Coutts said: "I haven't forgotten about this one [2007].

"Right now I'm getting legal advice. A lot of things I believe have not been honoured in my contract.

"In a lot of ways I'm glad it is over and I can talk about a lot of things which I have been restrained over in the past.

"It is a little bit sad that it has happened in this way but things like the rule change were obviously aimed at me.

"Backdating the rule in the way they have shows how things have been done since we won the America's Cup.

"It boils down to his [Bertarelli's] management style.

"I had serious concerns about the way the event was to be run. He broke our deal. He breached our contract. He has effectively locked me out of the America's Cup. And that is a big part of my life."

Coutts shocked the yachting world in 2000 when he left Team New Zealand to join Bertarelli after Team New Zealand had successfully defended the cup in Auckland. His sign-on fee was rumoured to be many millions of dollars.

Coutts then skippered Team Alinghi to a 5-0 thrashing of Team New Zealand in Auckland last year.

Questioned about outstanding money - including a promised bonus for winning last year - Coutts said several issues would need to be decided legally.

"A lot of things, I believe, were not honoured in my contract. A lot of people think it's a bit sad but life goes on."

Despite Coutts' axing, a senior Alinghi spokesman says New Zealanders will still be on board the America's Cup defender.


Alinghi spokesman Bernard Schopfer told the Herald last night that the syndicate was confident sailors including Brad Butterworth, Simon Daubney, Murray Jones, Warwick Fleury and Dean Phipps would not be packing their bags in support of Coutts.

Coutts was fired "for repeated violations of his duties".

A statement from Geneva, Switzerland, said he had been sent packing for refusing to sail with Alinghi in regattas in Sweden, Italy and Newport, Rhode Island, and for deciding not to sail coming races in Portugal.

Alinghi saw this as violating his contract.

The Swiss syndicate also cited Coutts' interest in planning a new series of big-boat racing with US sailor Paul Cayard as a conflict of interest.

Coutts appears to be grounded by the ruling and unable to take his talents elsewhere.

Bertarelli would not comment last night, but Schopfer said the syndicate's board had not made the decision lightly.

"That goes without saying, considering who Russell is and his contribution to the team," he said.

Schopfer said that "the good news, if there is good news" was that Coutts had gone now and not closer to the cup defence.

"It gives us a lot of time and we have strong assets as it is. We have a lot of time to rebuild, and reconstruct for 2007."

In Auckland, Emirates Team New Zealand had little to say on Coutts' sacking, saying it was not an issue for them.


Russell Coutts

* Sailing achievements

2003: Alinghi syndicate winner of the America's Cup.

2000: Team New Zealand defence of the America's Cup.

1995: Team New Zealand winner of the America's Cup.

1996: World matchracing champion.

1994: Ranked No 1 on world matchracing circuit.

1993: World matchracing champion.

1992: World matchracing champion.

1984: Olympic Finn-class gold medallist.

1981: Finn-class world champion.

* Honours

Commander of the Order of the British Empire.

Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit.

Twice the International Yacht Racing Union's World Sailor of the Year.