Dennis Conner: Team New Zealand should bring back Coutts

Former America's Cup winner Dennis Conner. Photo / Getty

Former America's Cup winner Dennis Conner believes Team New Zealand should try and lure back Russell Coutts for the 2021 America's Cup in Auckland.

Coutts, a five-time winner of the event, was the chief executive of the America's Cup Event Authority at the most recent Cup regatta in Bermuda.

He says he is highly unlikely to continue at the next America's Cup.

"I don't really have any ambitions to do that, I think there's plenty of people here that can get on and organise that," he told the Herald at the New Zealand Women's Open pro-am golf tournament.

"I'm just taking my time, obviously spending a lot of time with the youth programmes in New Zealand, which I'm getting a good kick out of, and there are some other projects I've been involved with for quite a while."

Speaking to Radio Live, Conner, a four-time winner of the event and an Olympic Games bronze medallist, disputed that New Zealand would be "giving a break to the foreigners" if Coutts did not take part in the next Cup event.

"If I was trying to win, he'd certainly be involved," the 75-year-old said.

"Who's smarter about the America's Cup than Russell Coutts? No one. There is no one.

"He's won more events, he knows more about it, he knows how to win, he's the best strategist, but why wouldn't you want the best guy in your country involved? If there are any hard feelings, get over it. He's the best sailor, most knowledgeable, most astute."

"If they don't have Russell Coutts involved, they're giving a break to the foreigners."