The Warehouse, known for its die-hard backing of Team New Zealand, has been criticised by the Green Party for buying its "loyal" flags in China.
Green MP Mike Ward says this smacks of the red socks scandal of the last cup, when it was revealed the lucky footwear had been manufactured
in Korea. Even Dennis Conner got his Stars and Stripes socks made in New Zealand last time.
Ward asks what price loyalty and says The Warehouse should support local industry. The official loyal flags, distributed by the ASB Bank, are made in Auckland.
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ACP Media boss Bruce Cotterill says the campaign against Russell Coutts and Brad Butterworth is extremely short-sighted and the pair should be signed up as New Zealand Ambassadors abroad. He says if they win the cup, and he hopes they don't, they will nevertheless become the undisputed greats of the event.
Cotterill argues the pair should be signed up by companies such as Fonterra, Tradenz and Tourism New Zealand and used to promote the country.
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Maybe this will shush a few Swiss conspiracy theories over the ongoing weather delays. After being generously invited to fly their flag from the Harbour Bridge, the big red and white emblem yesterday became another victim of the weather and had to be taken down when it tore. Rather than flying in a replacement, it has been stitched up and will be hoisted back today. If only they invested as many francs into their flags as they do international recruitment.
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A band of Swiss Alinghi supporters has hijacked the Loyal campaign. They have bought a supply of Team New Zealand T-shirts, and doctored Loyal to read Royal. We, at Off Course, are divided on which is worse.
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Has there been a coup at Team New Zealand after all?
British newspaper the Observer quoted the defender's skipper talking about Alinghi's big budget, only they weren't talking to Dean Barker. Instead, they labelled Murray Taylor the boss.
The media man more used to racing cars yesterday insisted he hadn't had a pay rise, and was not about to start helming the boat around the Hauraki Gulf. Barker's team-mates will be glad to hear it.
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The Warehouse, known for its die-hard backing of Team New Zealand, has been criticised by the Green Party for buying its "loyal" flags in China.
Green MP Mike Ward says this smacks of the red socks scandal of the last cup, when it was revealed the lucky footwear had been manufactured
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