Yachting: Wounded Team NZ to ward off another raid

By SUZANNE MFADDEN

Forget Russell Coutts and Switzerland. Seattle is now the biggest threat in Team New Zealand's battle to keep their crew loyal.

Nine of Team New Zealand's frontline sailors are apparently tossing up between the new American syndicate headed by telecommunications magnate Craig McCaw, and staying in Auckland.

Team NZ head Tom Schnackenberg admitted yesterday that the Seattle campaign was more of a concern than the Swiss syndicate, which has already stolen Coutts and Brad Butterworth.

"My understanding is that the [Seattle] syndicate have now increased their offers to our guys," Schnackenberg said.

"It's given the guys a lot to think about. I've had a lot of phone calls from individuals who aren't sure what they're going to do."

Rumours from the United States claim the in-demand Kiwi sailors have been offered contracts of $US250,000 a year from McCaw, a billionaire founder of telecommunications giant AT & T.

Now the New Zealanders have two sets of paperwork, after Team New Zealand sent out contracts this week.

The yachtsmen concerned are all believed to be experienced cup men, A-boat sailors from the foredeck through to grinders and trimmers. Veteran bowman Dean Phipps has already confirmed he is interested in jumping to a new ship.

If all nine go, Team New Zealand will be seriously wounded, with another five already earmarked for Switzerland. Schnackenberg said he had not heard from the three sailors expected to join Coutts and Butterworth in Geneva - tactician Murray Jones, and trimmers Simon Daubney and Warwick Fleury.

But he doubts whether there will be any further defections to the Ernesto Bertarelli camp.

"Russell has promised that he won't poach anyone else from the team," he said.

"But I guess that doesn't stop anyone from knocking on Russell's door.

"It would have been difficult until now for Russell to recruit sailors and designers while he was trying to keep his moves secret."

It could be at least a month before Team New Zealand makes some headway with new crew contracts.

At least 15 of the team are sailing overseas, and making offers to the absentees has been through e-mail communication.

"We have to be patient with the guys now, because they have had to be patient waiting for us," Schnackenberg said.

Few sailors have signed up with Team New Zealand. Designer and navigator Mike Drummond and bowman Joey Allen have pledged they will stay, while bowman Matt Mitchell put his signature on paper yesterday.

Even Schnackenberg has not filled in the forms yet, although he promises he will not leave.

Pitman Barry McKay said he still had a question mark over his name, but was swaying towards staying.

"This is one of the hardest times of my life, but it seems to be coming clearer every day," he said.

There may also be offers from software mogul Larry Ellison, believed to be mounting a challenge from the San Francisco bay area.

New Zealanders Chris Dickson and designer Bruce Farr have been tentatively linked to the syndicate, while Team New Zealand spinnaker designer Mickey Ickert has already joined.

There is still talk of a second Italian team, backed by Benetton and Ferragamo. Benetton have recently collected 65 million for selling their Formula One motor racing team to Renault.

Two American yacht clubs who investigated a joint challenge - New York and St Francis, which entered with Paul Cayard's AmericaOne last time - have decided not to pursue the idea.