British deny sacking helmsman

9.30am

The British syndicate in Auckland to challenging for the right to race Team New Zealand for the America's Cup have rejected rumours that internal woes have led to the sacking of helmsman Andy Green.

Green was reported to have been replaced by Andy Beadsworth after a series of disappointing starts in round-robin one of the Louis Vutton Cup series on the Hauraki Gulf.

The British boat Wight Lightning is in seventh place on the round-robin points table with one win from four starts.

However, the British said today the rumour was "completely without foundation" and probably the result of someone's imagination on a slow day when light winds led to a postponement of racing.

"Andy Green continues to be a very valuable member of the GBR Challenge afterguard and one of our key starting helmsmen," team spokeswoman Vicky Low said.

She said the sailing team had always been identified as a squad and the challenge could rotate crew "dependent on their performance, the conditions and the opposition.

"Whoever sent this rumour out is completely and utterly incorrect," she said.

Beadsworth was the starting helmsman on the crew list issued today for the race against the Italian Prada challenge.

GBR are the first British team to challenge for the Cup in 15 years and arrived in Auckland with two new boats and a budget of $70 million.

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