Bertarelli prepared to block move by Coutts

By JULIE ASH

Alinghi syndicate head Ernesto Bertarelli is not about to let New Zealand yachtsman Russell Coutts go without a fight.

Coutts and Bertarelli's Swiss syndicate are in mediation and it appears the three-times cup winner is close to quitting.

It had been assumed Coutts would not be able to join another syndicate because of his background in design, but he said that was "not necessarily" the case.

Bertarelli indicated in Britain's Daily Telegraph, however, that he would resist any attempt by Coutts to join a rival syndicate.

"Right now, I need to protect the team more than anything," he said.

"I don't want to find myself in a Team New Zealand situation [when Bertarelli hired Coutts away from the cup holders in 2000]. Frankly, and fortunately, I think I drafted my contracts a little better than Team New Zealand."

Bertarelli was at a loss to explain Coutts' unhappiness, but did not believe it had anything to do with their relationship, money or Coutts' position in the decision-making hierarchy.

"It's not a question of relationships," Bertarelli said.

"For me, it's very clear. We won the cup. We rolled in to 2003 and signed all the necessary contracts and we agreed all the financial terms, and everything was to happen as planned. Then, suddenly, he is dissatisfied."

Bertarelli was also a little miffed at Coutts' decision not to helm in this week's UBS Trophy regatta in Newport, Rhode Island.

"For me to find that he doesn't want to jump on an Alinghi boat is a bit of surprise, given that what I basically hired him for was helming," Bertarelli said.

"If the guy doesn't want to do his basic task, we have a bit of problem."

Bertarelli said he would obviously prefer Coutts to stay.

"There's no question that we would be better off with Russell motivated and kicking.

"I appreciated him for what he did for our team [in 2003]. I know his strengths and that's why I am hoping for a resolution."

When asked how he views his relationship with Bertarelli, Coutts told the Herald: "It is like anything ... we have had some differences and so forth, but we have had some good times in the past, too."

Coutts would not elaborate on the issues surrounding the relationship breakdown, but it is understood he wanted more say in the running of the cup event.

However, Coutts was quick to dismiss suggestions he was in a similar situation to where he was in 2000 when he left Team New Zealand.

"It is nothing like that."

Further reading: nzherald.co.nz/americascup