Gates in secret bid to lure Cup yachties

The world's most famous rich man, Bill Gates, has been identified as the mystery backer of the multimillion-dollar raid on Team New Zealand's champion America's Cup crew.

Britain's Observer newspaper says the Microsoft president is bankrolling the United States challenge, which has offered at least 20 New Zealand sailors and designers new jobs with huge pay cheques.

Gates does not have a sailing background. But he made a secret visit to Auckland during the America's Cup in March to watch Team NZ's victory.

His new syndicate has a budget of $US35 million ($71.4 million) to lure the cream of the New Zealand crew before the Cup's nationality deadline next March.

It is believed veteran Laurie Davidson, who designed the black boat hulls, has been offered $US1.5 million to jump ship.

Former Team NZ legal adviser Sean Reeves has been working as the go-between for the syndicate.

Gates' new-found interest in yachting could have been sparked by his software competitors.

His arch-rival, Oracle chairman Larry Ellison, is a keen sailor who has won the Sydney-Hobart race.

The Netscape founder, Jim Clark, who owns superyacht Hyperion, was rumoured to be behind a new Seattle syndicate with America3 billionaire Bill Koch, but both have said they have no Cup plans.

Koch said he had received an e-mail from America's Cup legend Dennis Conner "stating he had heard that I had teamed up with ... Bill Gates to sponsor a Seattle syndicate."

"I have never met or spoken to Bill Gates. I don't even know if he likes to sail," Koch said.

Confusion exists over whether the Gates-backed campaign and the Seattle syndicate are one and the same.

The public face behind the Seattle group, Washington boat show organiser Russell Belden, has denied trying to "steal" Team New Zealand crew, saying he wants to compete with an all-American team.

"Sailors who have represented another country won't be considered," he said.

Russell Coutts, one of Team NZ's new leaders, said he did not know whose money was behind the Seattle team. He also thought Gates' involvement in the Cup had been merely a rumour.

Coutts is not surprised that money men such as Gates would target his team.

"Clearly, Team New Zealand is now a world-class organisation with property that is being sought after by many overseas entities," he said.

"But bringing on younger sailors for the 2000 Cup has meant that all our crew positions are well covered now, and a few losses wouldn't be catastrophic."