Christmas round-up 2004: Yachting

RUSSELL COUTTS

In a blaze of glorious sniping and told-you-so's, Russell Coutts and Alinghi were spectacularly divorced, with both parties proving that it was not an amicable split. Billionaire America's Cup syndicate winner Ernesto Bertarelli dished the dirt by returning an aggrieved Coutts' fire with news that Coutts' salary did not lag behind that of Swiss CEOs - between $5 million to $20 million a year, depending on how big a cheese you are in Switzerland.

GRANT DALTON

The firm hand of Dalton was apparent in team New Zealand all year, from the winning of the Valencia regatta, to the securing of the Emirates sponsorship and the civilised - when compared to the above - release of Tom Schnackenberg. Dalton has won respect, got the Team New Zealand challenge back on line and is even trying out for a crew spot as a 'sewer rat' - one of the least glamorous roles on the boat.

TOM SCHNACKENBERG

A name and an intellect synonomous with New Zealand's America's Cup success, 'Schnack' may have inevitably paid the price for the devastating drubbing at the hands of Alinghi and for the ignominious finale of the falling mast to signal the loss of the America's Cup.

VALENCIA

However, that loss was partly avenged when a smooth-sailing Team New Zealand showed dash and coolness to win 13 out of 17 races and take the third America's Cup pre-regatta in Valencia. This particular regatta was worth nothing in terms of points for the next America's Cup in 2007 - but it was priceless in terms of building sel-belief.

ZE GERMAN BOOT

GER68, now known as NZL68 but usually as "the German boat" went into the water this month and is the first hard sign of the coming Cup regatta. It is on loan to the syndicate but is decked out a la version 5 - the new design specifications which will govern the next America's Cup.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY