Yachting: 'KR' throws his weight behind holding Cup forever

By SUZANNE McFADDEN

Kevin Roberts, the man who waxed lyrical about Team New Zealand's tight-knit team before it started to unravel, has become the latest member of the syndicate's new trust.

American-based Roberts was initially courted by Russell Coutts and Brad Butterworth before the two Team New Zealand leaders defected to a rival Swiss syndicate.

He was recommended after the work he did for New Zealand rugby, securing television rights and sponsorship contracts - the next major task for Team New Zealand after they have signed up crew.

Roberts, now chief executive worldwide of Saatchi and Saatchi, had a keen interest in America's Cup campaigns through advertising and sponsorship when he was head of Lion New Zealand.

He was co-author of the book Peak Performance, which studied the success of sports teams around the world. Among those role models of success were the campaigns run by Team New Zealand.

Roberts said it had been an easy decision to become a trustee. In the rousing patriotic language which has made Roberts famous (or, maybe, infamous), he added: "Team New Zealand's dream is to retain the America's Cup forever.

"This is a fantastic challenge shared, I'm sure, by all New Zealanders who are saying right now 'I'll do anything I can to help to keep the Cup'." Roberts joins Ralph Norris, Peter Menzies and Canadian John Risley on the trust. Norris said yesterday that the trust had invited Roberts to join, and his closer involvement with Team New Zealand would "significantly bolster the resources" of the defence.

Team NZ: who's in, who's out

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