KEY POINTS:
Yachting's worst kept secret is out with BMW Oracle signing three times America's Cup winner Russell Coutts to lead their next challenge.
Billionaire owner Larry Ellison says he has signed Coutts as both skipper and chief executive.
Here is the latest selection of Your Views:
Patriot
Good on ya Russell. Hopefully if we don't win, you can with Oracle, anything to see that smug git Bertarelli lose it. And for those comparing this with departing All Blacks - it's completely different. They're going to play for CLUBS in other countries - we'll not see them as part of an international team, playing against the All Blacks.
Walter (Kaikoura)
Competitive Sport only make sense sailing under a flag. We need new rules especially in team sport. Syndicates are fine but teams should only be allowed to compete under their flag when 80 per cent of the players/members are citizens of that country.
Colorado
I agree fully with Lion Kings comment. Even Russell Coutts realises that Alinghi are cheats. Just go and Read the protest document lodged by the Golden Gate Yacht Club. I say Boycott the 33rd AmCup and leave Alinghi out in the cold. Why play with a bully? Bertarelli is the spoiled bully in the sand pit. Just have a decent Louis Vuitton Cup and then call it a day. I am sure Bertarelli will not be able to handle that and spit the dummy. The whole thing now turns into a joke. Nothing to do with a friendly competition between countries as per deed.
Chieftain
Why does anybody care what Coutts or Butterworth or Bertorelli or any of the lot of them do with the America's Cup? Surely there are more important things in life than yachting, and more productive ways for our government to spend our hard-earned tax dollars? How many New Zealanders can honestly say that they have directly and materially benefited by the America's Cup challenges? If it were as many as 1 per cent of the nation I'd be stunned.
Mama Mia (Auckland)
So, here comes the NZ Foreign legion, again, again and again. About time rules were changed in AmCup so that any boat representing a nation must have at least 80 per cent of their crew from that one specific nation. But, of course, the cheats from Switzerland would be dead against such change as it would immediately put them out of business, because they probably can't even muster one fair dinkum ocean sailor, let alone skipper, since they only have funny little lakes to sail on, not to forget the fountain in front of the WTO.
Kiwi in Ca
Cool. If NZ wins, I can visit home to watch, if Oracle wins, I can drive up the coast to SF and watch.
TC
The old expression used to be in the years that numerous British challenges, by Lord Lipton et al, to retrieve the America's Cup came to nought that, 'Brittania rules the waves while America waives the rules'. So what has changed, it is now Bertarelli re-writing the rules to suit himself. If Larry wins it back for America no doubt the same will happen and then we might see another century+ of America overcoming successive challenges by writing the rules to suit themselves. I hope that TNZ challenges again if for no other reason than to give the others a run for their money as happened the last time.
Chirpi
Well this will be a real test of the man. No one doubts his ability as a skipper but to get the right people, boat and chemistry together and WIN when there are other teams equally well established will certainly be a challenge for him. He's off to sell more intellectual knowledge born from the people of Aotearoa! Am pleased he is not with Alinghi, would love to see him with NZ but then would I really? (Wounds heal but scares are left.) Probably just want TNZ to win (Russell out of the opposition improves our chances!). He doesn't walk on water so why everyone rates him as one who can beats me! I wish him well, just don't win Russell! And here's hoping Alinghi have a big bust-up with Oracle and they all end up with 20 cent holes in their spinnakers!
John
Blackheart forever ruined the Dave Dobbyn song loyal. They shamed the NZ people. Is Luke McAlister a traitor for leaving the All Blacks? Of course not! People keep saying comparisons like these are not the same, why not? Should they not be worse since rugby is our national sport. Ill tell you why, it's because in rugby we know there will be more talent come through without any wait at all. In the America's cup, we knew we were stuffed as soon as he left. A 20 million money grant from the government directly to Coutts to stay would have been worth millions more in the long run. If they had let him run the whole thing back in 2003 then we would of won.
P.S. Still really angry they ruined the Loyal song.
Pamela Thompson
Why do people not realise there is a difference between Irene, ABs etc and coutterworth - the former have acquired their renown on their own efforts without a vehicle provided by a nation - without kids emptying their money boxes - and without this the latter would be just a couple of guys who could sail a boat.
Greig
Good to see another great kiwi head up a serious contender for The Cup. But a skipper is one small part of the whole team. Russell has significant work ahead of him to assemble a dynamic and cohesive team like Team NZ and Alinghi. Let's hope team NZ's structure can stay intact, so come on you sponsors, get your cheque books out now, and contact Dalts.
John L
Time for Trevor Mallard to ask for his money back, with this combination of sailing skill & money NZ will never foot it against Alinghi & Oracle.
Lionking (Palmerston North)
Let's hope Oracle can wrestle the cup away from Alinghi with Russell Coutts. I am TNZ supporter but I rather have anybody else win the cup then it staying with Alinghi. With the way Ernesto Bertarelli is handling the 33rd ACC I can't help but wonder that the reason why Russell Coutts was force to leave Alinghi was because he wasn't willing to sell his soul to the devil unlike Brad Butterworth and the other Kiwi sailors. First Alinghi cheated their way to retain the cup, and I am guessing he also bankrolled Spain's Club Nautico Espanol de Vela (CNEV) as Challenger of Record. Everything looks and smells fishy even for a layman. He's not a sportsman, just a rich bully. The new rules are so one-sided that Bertarelli is looking so pathetically desperate in keeping the cup. I think all the challengers should get together and stage a boycott of the 33rd ACC. If Ernesto Bertarelli is so desperate to keep the cup through any means, let him have it. Maybe Louis Vuitton can stage a brand new regatta and not let Alinghi participate. If the America's Cup loses its meaning and prestige then it becomes a useless piece of Silverware to Ernesto Bertarelli.
Colorado
Nothing Surprising there. Coutts had nowhere else to go other then to Luna Rossa. Ellison got the money and TNZ was most likely not interested. Shows once again that money speaks. Will be interesting to see how he does without his mates from Alinghi.
Andrew Atkin
This is good news. Because Coutts doesn't make mistakes, and because Larry Ellison has a virtual bottomless pit of money to burn, and because Larry Elison is sick of not winning the damn thing...he will, with Coutts and money on board, systematically win the next Americas cup. We will all struggle to keep our eyes open through the methodical, academic event, and that will (hopefully) lead to some serious reform of the "money v money" Americas cup. Or it will be replaced with something better.
H
No question Russell is a great helmsman, and NZ should be proud of him. But a successful campaign is about teamwork and I believe it was the effectiveness of his partnership with Brad Butterworth in particular that made Team NZ and Alinghi so effective. Brad's role has never been given the headlines he deserves, but his effectiveness in the latest AC was shown again. Can Russell get the same chemistry with another tactician and team? Maybe. Can he control the undoubted ego and be a team player again? Bertarelli thought not, Ellison is about to find out. It will be worth watching!
Murray
Well, the results of the next America's Cup (if it survives Bertorelli) will be; New Zeland B (Coutts) 1st, New Zealand A (New Zealand) 2nd, and New Zeland C (Alinghi) 3rd. Let's face it, in today's world money overrides everything and Coutts has done nothing more than anyone else would do, go after the dollars. We in New Zealand, who are becoming so conditioned to participation rather than achievement can not complain if our best who want to achieve, go where they can achieve. And this philosophy will not change until we change.
Howard K (Bangkok)
It is great news for the America's cup that the world's best sailor is back in the game. All this talk about traitors is nonsense and as a professional sportsman he should be allowed to ply his trade wherever he chooses. No-one talks about the numerous All Blacks who are about to defect after the world cup as being traitors. It has to be said that all of Russell Coutts success in the America's Cup has come about with the aid of Brad Butterworth and co. It will be interesting to see if he can build a new team that is just as awesome. If he can do that he will be unbeatable.
LV
Great stuff good to see the best skipper in the world back in the americas cup.Coutts is Mr America's cup. To the bitter twisted black hearts out there get over yourselves and remember Coutts has more sailing ability in his little finger than Dalton and Barker have combined. Bad news for TNZ I cant see barker/dalton beating Alinghi let alone Oracle with coutts running the show. Team NZ should do the honorable thing and tell Trevor Mallard and the Govt save your money and dont throw it at a losing cause spend it on something beneficial for all NZers not a small elitist group.
Aquarius (QLD)
In a way,i'm pleased to hear Coutts has been appointed as skipper of Oracle.Lets face it,he is the best yachtsman in the game and the next America's cup could be "a good fight"Though Kiwi fans still regard him as a traitor,i think he would display some magic for Alinghi to ponder.In truth,he is a better yachtsman than Butterworth and the fact,he did not sail for Alinghi for this year's cup makes me think that he did a mistake in the first place to jump ship.Only Coutts will know!But i'm going for Team New Zealand all the way.
Serge
Russell Coutts is a professional sailor. That is all there is to it. That is the way he makes his living. Nobody should criticise him for accepting probably better pay, better conditions and insured his future.
Mander (Auckland)
Excellent news for the world of yachting. May not be good for Team NZ, but perhaps that was TNZ own choice, not approaching him for the next cup. Coutts is the only guy who is capable of taking care of evil designs of Ernesto Bertrelli of Alinghi, who is trying to hijack Americas cup for ever and went out of his way to run New Zealand down as a nation. Coutts is a great professional and in no way a traitor.
JAFA
Russell Coutts has achieved alot for a person born in NZ. Like many famous people from NZ he is just one of many more to come to achieve such a high position in World Yachting, Business, conquering the world. It makes me proud to know that he is a Kiwi.
Jo (Southland)
He couldn't on with Team NZ and exited..then couldnt get on with Alingi and I suspect the same thing will happen on Oracle. His ego is over inflated, and lets face it he hasn't done any Cup racing for some time. Also this time he will be the Challenger and Alingi will score again, over him anyway, but hopefully not over teamnz. Go Team NZ.
Danielle
Good on him. I wasn't a fan at all when he left back in 2000 because it seemed like a deliberate attack on NZ. Now he's sailed for Switzerland and now the USA, it seems more about the sailing rather than something directly related to NZ. I hope Team NZ wins the challenger series in 2009 but if they don't I hope whoever does win the series (even if Oracle) beats Alinghi so the America's Cup doesn't lose its traditions!
Darren
Good on him. That 'traitor' stuff is getting old. It is odd that many N.Z. national sports teams have foreign-born players (league, rugby netball) and we don't have a problem with them leaving their home countries to come and play for us - like Irene Van Dyk. Yet if one of ours leaves it is a problem? Typical one-eyed Kiwi sensibilities... Lighten up, and get over it.
Andy C (Auckland)
Good for Russell I say, at least he's not working for that awful Bertarelli, who seems determined to ruin the Americas Cup for everyone except his own interests.
Russell left Team NZ for good reasons (not just the money as it happens) and whilst I didn't like the way things went in 2003 I think we were as much to blame as Alinghi for that.But Coutts has shown himself to be a more loyal Kiwi than the arrogant Brad Butterworth by reinstalling his family back in NZ and indicating that this is where he wants to be. He may have been waiting for an approach from Team NZ but Grant Dalton has ruled that out saying we can't afford him, so I guess he took the next best option.
Why would you trust him
Coutts is such a smug character. Has he no scruples. Has he forgotten " where he learnt to sail" yep in New Zealand! He seems to me to be totally untrustworthy. Good luck Oracle, I think you might need it!
Waka rere
Congratulations Russell , go for it.Another world ranked sailing kiwi returns to the fold.Who says Kiwi cant fly?
