Yachting: Coutts deal leaves door open

Russell Coutts and Alinghi boss Ernesto Bertarelli have reached a settlement, but it remains unclear whether the most successful helmsman in America's Cup history will be involved in the next event.

In a short statement issued yesterday, Bertarelli, Alinghi Holdings and Coutts announced they had amicably settled their past disagreements.

Coutts was fired by the Swiss syndicate in July for "repeated violations of his duties". He claimed his contract was breached illegally and his role in Alinghi was at "considerable variance" with the one they had discussed during and since the last cup.

Yesterday's statement said Bertarelli and Coutts were deeply satisfied with this positive outcome.

But it is a major turnaround for Coutts, who had vowed to fight for his right to sail in the next event.

As part of the settlement he will not sail for another team in the next cup.

But it is not clear whether that means Coutts could still be involved in a role other than sailing, and whether the change to the America's Cup protocol - which Bertarelli and Oracle boss Larry Ellison instigated to prevent Coutts from joining another team in any capacity - applies.

Both parties agreed to make no further comments.

Speculation was rife before the settlement that Coutts had joined Team Luna Rossa (formerly Prada).

Italian newspaper Il Giornale last week reported that there was to have been a press conference to announce Coutts' arrival. But it never took place because his legal situation had not been resolved.

The statement issued by Alinghi implies that Coutts will not be at the next event, but yachting commentator Peter Lester said nothing was certain.

"Never say never in this game ... just because they have said that there are bound to be more twists in it," he said.

Along with his undisputed sailing ability, Coutts' technical nous and engineering background would make him a huge asset to any team, even if he was restricted to a chase boat - something Bertarelli will be aware of.

"He is a threat no matter what he does but his main tool to the armoury is getting off the line first and winning the first cross ... usually that means you are going to win the race," Lester said.

Coutts is the most dominant sailor in the event's history.

An Olympic gold medallist, he steered Team New Zealand to victory in the 1995 regatta.

He then orchestrated the syndicate's Cup defence in 2000 before defecting to Alinghi, who thrashed Team New Zealand 5-0 to become the first challenger in history to win the Cup at the first attempt.

While there is still some lingering ill-feeling towards him following his decision to leave Team New Zealand, many consider that barring him from the cup would be comparable to excluding Michael Schumacher from Formula One or Roger Federer from the men's tennis tour.

"It just makes whoever wins it a bit of a shallow victory in some ways, if you haven't beaten the best," Lester said.

American John Sweeney, who is trying to get Sausalito Challenge on the startline, said that without Coutts sailing, there was no clear favourite.

THE STORY SO FAR

May 2000: Russell Coutts leaves Team New Zealand, taking five key members with him.

March 2003: Alinghi win the America's Cup, beating Team New Zealand 5-0.

June 2004: Coutts refuses to sail with Alinghi in Rhode Island.

July 2004: Alinghi sack Coutts.

November 2004: Coutts and Ernesto Bertarelli begin legal arbitration.

March 2005: Settlement reached.