Crew wary of threats says Coutts

By HELEN TUNNAH

Alinghi skipper Russell Coutts says his crew will be wary of threats to their families when they begin racing in the America's Cup challenger finals tomorrow.

He said the response to threats made in letters to key sailors in the Swiss syndicate had been amazing and 99 per cent of New Zealanders were "horrified by what's happened".

Coutts told the Daily Telegraph the letters targeting the Swiss team's New Zealand sailors had threatened violence to crews' families.

The attempts to unsettle Alinghi had plainly gone too far, he said.

"We will go racing mindful of the menacing letters that some Alinghi team members received ... threatening violence to our families, property and base."

Police told the Herald they were confident of the security in place for the Louis Vuitton Cup final between Alinghi and Oracle BMW Racing.

Officers patrol the Viaduct Harbour and the Hauraki Gulf, and visit the syndicates each day.

The letters were reportedly sent by a group called Teach The Traitors A Lesson.

nzherald.co.nz/americascup

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