NZ Cup kitty grows at $10 a time

By SUZANNE McFADDEN

New Zealanders are being asked to dig into their pockets so Team New Zealand can reward their crew for staying put.

As threats of defections to other America's Cup camps linger, Team New Zealand want to lure their sailors, designers and shore crew with sign-on fees paid for in part by the public.

A fund was set up by former commodores of the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron yesterday, but already envelopes holding cash and cheques from $10 to $100 have been flooding the defenders' base.

Tom Schnackenberg, Team New Zealand's new leader, wants to give money in advance to crew who re-sign. "Teams around the world are offering our guys big sign-on fees," he said. "If we can offer the team money up front, we can use it as an incentive to sign.

"If we can help our guys, then we will look like real players. If we were the only syndicate in the world who couldn't offer it, it would be a bit embarrassing."

Rumours suggest some Team New Zealand sailors have been offered $40,000 by foreign syndicates just to sign on.

Schnackenberg said the Kiwi reward system would be funded by donated dollars and borrowed money until sponsorship deals had been done. "The support from the public buys us time before we rush into any sponsor agreements."

Among the donations which have arrived was a $10 note with a message: "Financial support from most ordinary people, such as this little old lady, can only be in small doses - enclosed is mine."

The money will be kept in the new trust fund, started by 15 past commodores of the squadron, holders of the America's Cup. Donations are being accepted at branches of the WestpacTrust.

"We want people to know there are a lot of other people in Team New Zealand than the Russell Coutts and Brad Butterworths," said the present commodore, Peter Kingston. "We are right behind the team."

The squadron made the first contribution of $10,000.

Schnackenberg is putting together contract offers for crew, before trying to find the budget for a three-year campaign.

Defecting skipper Russell Coutts has claimed Team New Zealand will need at least $70 million to be successful this time - around $20 million more than the last defence.