Cup crusader back to see Team NZ take line honours

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Merchant banker Sir Michael Fay is back in Auckland, refusing to accept any credit for the hype surrounding the America's Cup regatta or the Viaduct Harbour development.

But he does take some satisfaction in his part in bankrolling New Zealand's first challenges for sport's longest surviving contest.

Sir Michael, who now lives in Geneva, was at the National Maritime Museum yesterday as KZ7, or Kiwi Magic, tied up for the summer on loan.

"It's amazing when you look at a boat like this and compare her with the cup boats of today," he said.

"But the cup was long overdue to get out of 12-metres after Fremantle.

"They had had their heyday but this [one] started the fever. Dreams of America's Cup glory started on this boat.

"Ten years after Kiwi Magic, New Zealand won with Black Magic," said Sir Michael.

"I still feel there is a connection between KZ7 and what is going on around here now."

Sir Michael's only concern in being reunited with the boat he and business partner David Richwhite put in the water for that pathfinding 1987 challenge was the absence of skipper Chris Dickson.

"I will be getting in touch with Chris. This was his boat - not mine.

"I certainly would like to see him at the helm in the Auckland Anniversary Regatta.

"She has been racing in Europe under a loan arrangement with Prada boss Patrizio Bertelli. They won the world 12m championships."

Sir Michael, who retains his membership of the Mercury Bay Yacht Club - which mounted the infamous Big Boat challenge with KZ1 - will stay in Auckland "until Team New Zealand have retained the America's Cup."

"I flew over the cup village in a helicopter the other day. I couldn't believe the development that has gone on. It is fantastic."

But on the red-socks row, Sir Michael sees red.

"I can't believe what I'm hearing. Peter Blake and Russell Coutts deserve 150 per cent support from New Zealanders.

"They certainly don't need any silly distractions."

Asked about involvement in a future challenge, he said: "My CV doesn't look very good - I missed out three times."

His family will return to Switzerland in time for the new school year but he will stay on, working out of his Auckland office and spending as much time as possible at his beach house.

Sir Michael moved his base to Geneva last year. His high-profile company had not always enjoyed plain sailing, being a key player in the Government's privatisations of the 1980s and one of the companies in the hot seat during the Winebox inquiry into alleged tax fraud.