Millions of reasons to go

By SUZANNE McFADDEN

Jilted yachtsman Tom Schnackenberg unwittingly introduced Russell Coutts to the billionaire who snatched the skipper from Team New Zealand.

Ernesto Bertarelli first met Coutts during the America's Cup in February, then six weeks later offered him a lucrative deal to quit running the Cup and instead sail his Swiss boat in 2003.

An unrepentant Coutts, back home in Auckland yesterday four days after his shock defection, admitted that it was an offer too good to refuse.

There was the money - a multimillion-dollar figure the champion skipper would not divulge. And there was the thrill of sailing again, instead of being land-bound managing a Cup defence.

Coutts and his right-hand man, Brad Butterworth, came clean yesterday on why they walked out on the team and where they were headed.

Butterworth will sign on the dotted line with the new Swiss team in Geneva late next week. The pair hope three others - Simon Daubney, Warwick Fleury and Murray Jones - will do the same.

Coutts explained yesterday how Schnackenberg introduced him to Bertarelli, a pharmaceuticals billionaire.

"We were one-nil up against Prada in the Cup, and Tom was showing him around our compound," Coutts recalled.

"I shook his hand, but later he said I was really aggressive towards him. Like, who's this foreign guy walking around the compound?"

The billionaire was not deterred. When Coutts was in Geneva last month visiting another Swiss challenge on Team NZ business, Bertarelli tracked him down.

"I told him I wasn't sailing in the next Cup, and he said: 'Maybe we could get together on this'," Coutts said.

"He said if I came along he would be in. I don't think he would have entered otherwise."

Coutts reckons that was another good reason to say "yes." After all, they would be creating another competitive team for the America's Cup dominated by New Zealand for the past five years.

"It's not such a bad thing. I believe Team New Zealand are still incredibly strong," he said. "But it will be a much closer competition next time."

It was obvious as Coutts fronted up to field the criticism yesterday that he had no regrets.

"I wouldn't change a thing. I'm not asking anyone to feel sorry for me - I've faced flak before," he said.

"This isn't a world war out there - it's a sporting contest."

After flying in on the red-eye flight from Los Angeles before dawn yesterday, Coutts disconnected his phones, then met Schnackenberg and Butterworth before facing the media.

When he and Butterworth stopped for coffee in Takapuna, people approached them with their support.

"There are people who recognise we made a tough decision. They haven't forgotten what we did for this country," he said.

"I feel proud of my contribution to Team New Zealand. I love New Zealand, I'm a New Zealander and always will be. But it was time for me to make a move."

Coutts and Butterworth, skipper and tactician of the black boats for the last two Cup victories, were not going to sail in 2003 - the helm had been handed over to Barker.

Then they realised they wanted to be back on the water when Bertarelli's offer came.

"It stirred my imagination. I had to [think], how long till we retire from sailing? Maybe Billy [Butterworth] and I aren't too old to compete in this game," he said.

When Butterworth stood alone and announced the pair's departure, he said it was because they were unhappy with the deal handed over from the old syndicate trustees and sponsors.

But Coutts refused to explain why yesterday, saying he would not dwell on the past.

Although shocked crew members spoke of betrayal, Coutts said the differences would be patched. "We have friendships with those guys that are going to last forever," he said.

Last night, Cup holders the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron set up a donations fund to "reward and encourage the retention" of Team New Zealand crew.