NZ skipper quits cup yacht for race career

By Suzanne McFadden

Balancing America's Cup demands with matchracing ambitions is no longer a problem for Gavin Brady

High-flying New Zealand skipper Gavin Brady has quit his job at the wheel of America's Cup challenger America True.

Brady, ranked No 2 in world matchracing, now wants to concentrate on sailing
into the top spot before the new millennium. But America True say they are disappointed they put so much into Brady's career over the past year - now without reward.

Brady handed his resignation to True boss Dawn Riley in Auckland on Thursday night, before flying to his home in the United States.

The young skipper's mentor, top sailing coach Harold Bennett, said yesterday that Brady had found it difficult devoting time to the Cup campaign and his other sailing interests.

"While he was with True he had some opportunities to do matchracing, but he was finding it difficult giving enough time to the campaign to get something out of it," Bennett said.

"For his best interests, and for True's, it's better that he's not there."

Brady will continue on the world matchracing circuit. After winning the Australia Cup a fortnight ago, he is No 1 seed in a star-studded line-up for the
Steinlager-Line 7 grand prix regatta in Auckland next month.

He will also carry on working with Hong Kong businessman Carl Kwok and his Beau Geste big boat campaign. Rumour has it that Kwok wants Brady to head a round-the-world project in the next Volvo Ocean Race in 2001.

Back in Auckland, Riley was far from impressed with Brady's decision.
"I demand that people involved in this syndicate are committed 100 per cent," she said.

"Gavin's goal was to get to be No 1 in the world. We financed his climb from No 4 to No 2, and now he's no longer part of our plan.

"It's disappointing to have made the commitment to him and not have him return it to us."

Brady, who sailed for Chris Dickson in the 1995 Cup, was to have helmed for America True in the Road to the America's Cup regatta on the Waitemata Harbour in a week's time.

Now the job will go to another New Zealander, crew boss John Cutler, who qualifies for residency after living in the United States and the Caribbean.

Cutler was helmsman for the Japanese Nippon challenge in the 1995 America's Cup. Last year he helmed the now-defunct Team Caribbean campaign on the Road to the America's Cup event.

Riley said the sailing crew were not stung heavily by Brady's sudden departure. "We have a very strong afterguard as it stands, and we were always intending to add more people anyway," she said.

It appears Brady's America's Cup career is not over yet. Said Bennett: "The opportunity for Gavin to sail with another syndicate still exists ... but if the opportunity comes up with someone else, for a reason that may suit his needs better, he will have a look at it."