Yachting: Blake on deck for Team NZ

By SUZANNE McFADDEN

Sir Peter Blake is back in the warzone of the America's Cup, as adviser to the shell-shocked Team New Zealand.

Just three months ago, he stepped down after leading the team to two America's Cup wins. But he admits the syndicate is still a third of his life, and he will not turn his back on it.

The defenders' woes continued yesterday as they rallied to keep trimmer Tony Rae from joining an American syndicate. The scramble came just 24 hours after 13 Team New Zealand members walked out and signed with the new Seattle syndicate, One World Challenge.

But Sir Peter, who is immersed in his role as the new Jacques Cousteau, is still confident the new-generation defence will hold its head above water.

And he is urging ordinary New Zealanders to help fund the campaign, which will need much more than the $50 million it survived on last time.

Among his suggestions is a national lottery for Team New Zealand's coffers.

Sir Peter is back in Auckland tidying up sponsorships from the last Cup before rejoining his family in England.

Even as he emptied his Team New Zealand office, he stressed that he was not cutting ties with a team who have lost one-third of their men to rivals.

"I'm available to be talked to. Sometimes with a new team you mustn't interfere. But any help that I can give from last time, I will.

"They can have any advice they like."

In the last Cup, Sir Peter was lauded for drawing the world's rich and famous to Auckland. But with a new wave of billionaires flooding the next challenger series, he predicted it would turn ugly.

"The whole America's Cup game has changed because some teams are backed by the wealthiest people in the world.

"If you're worth $US90 billion what's $60 or $100 million? It's like you or me buying an ice cream.

"But you've got Bertelli, Bertarelli, McCaw and Ellison - some of the richest men - and they can't all win. So people are going to get very upset when they don't.

"This Cup will be quite ugly off the water. It's going to be quite a bitter fight. So Team New Zealand is sitting in a pretty good place."

The mass defections and leadership changes that have rocked the New Zealanders over the past two months disappoint Sir Peter. But he still feels optimistic about a second successful defence - though he has not always felt that way.

His confidence has been buoyed by the return of former Team New Zealand manager Ross Blackman as the new chief executive.

"Ross is one of my best friends and he's marvellous with people. Without him I'd have doubts," he said.

"But I have the utmost confidence - and I don't say this lightly - in this team we still have here. They know they can get bigger salaries everywhere else, but they have passion."

Mr Blackman said that he was already relying on Sir Peter's help.

"As much as I know he didn't want to get into another Cup, his heart is in the right place and his advice is invaluable."

Team New Zealand are likely to need $20 million more than their last budget, to keep pace and to reward those who have stayed.

Sir Peter believes financial support from New Zealanders will have to be a lot stronger for this defence.

"We were really fortunate to go and win it on a pittance in '95, and then fortunate to defend it at a low cost," he said.

"I guess $50 million isn't low-cost, but compared to the benefit it has brought this country - between [$1 billion and $2 billion] - it wasn't that much."

Sponsors would not be able to fund the entire campaign, he said, suggesting the special lottery.

"The America's Cup will one day leave New Zealand. There's no need to get upset about it - it's just sport.

"But all those people who are sitting around worrying about it should think about how they can help. They should get off the couch and stop ringing the radio talkback and help out."

Sir Peter said he could understand why sailors and designers had jumped ship after years of "working for not much."

"But I still didn't like what went on - the smokescreen stuff. It's totally out of place.

"The guys have gone - but they should have stayed and given their all this time.

"I think the guys who are left here will be much better anyway. They really want to win."

Sir Peter will be back in Auckland in two months before setting sail for Cape Horn on the Cousteau boat Antarctic Explorer.

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