Yachting: Coutts' tight five happy to stay true to Alinghi

By JULIE ASH

Russell Coutts' tight five have decided to stay put, committing themselves to Alinghi and the 2007 defence of the America's Cup.

Coutts, the most successful helmsman in the cup's history was fired from the Swiss syndicate in July for "repeated violations of his duty".

But unlike in 2000 when Coutts made his shock exit from Team New Zealand - this time Murray Jones, Brad Butterworth, Simon Daubney, Warwick Fleury and Dean Phipps are letting him go alone.

"I never considered quitting," Jones told the Herald yesterday.

"It is a really good team, we are pretty happy here and we are confident we can work together and achieve our goals."

The New Zealanders have chosen to stay out of the dispute between Ernesto Bertarelli and Coutts. The wrangle took a nasty turn this week when Bertarelli divulged details of Coutts' salary, implying greed was a key reason for their split.

Yesterday Coutts hit back, describing Bertarell's claims as "outrageous" and an "attempt to rewrite history".

"Frankly I think his behaviour is becoming a bit demeaning to himself, me and to the sport we love."

Said Jones: "It is their business and they have to deal with it themselves.

"We have kept out of it. I don't want to get involved in it personally because I am committed to Alinghi and I want to stay in the team. Ernesto is our boss and I want us to succeed and move forward."

Coutts' sacking does bring the curtain down on what has been described as the "most dangerous sailing combination in the world".

Not only have they dominated the past three America's Cups, they also have been regular winners on the international match-racing circuit.

In 1996, a year after their first cup victory with Team New Zealand, the group won the five major international match-racing events, amassing more than $US400,000 in prizemoney and a $US250,000 bonus.

"I think he's just the complete package," Butterworth has said of Coutts. "He's not a designer but he's got a great understanding of the design side of it and his way of motivating people is incredible.

"He leads from the front and he doesn't expect anyone to do things that he wouldn't do himself ... he's got a mental strength that I think is second to none."

For Alinghi, life without Coutts has already begun. Former Oracle helmsman Peter Holmberg is now at the wheel and with tactical genius Butterworth, recently made vice-president of Alinghi, at his side, the Alinghi ship appears to be steadying.

While Holmberg might not have the design expertise of Coutts, he is no "rookie" at the wheel.

"We sailed against him in the challenger series final and we found that tough," said Jones.

"It is just a matter of us developing that communication and working with him to form a good team. But we've got Jochen Schuemann as well and are probably looking at hiring another helmsman."

Interestingly, the syndicate have not named a skipper to replace Coutts. "There is no reason to," said Jones.

A win in the opening fleet race of the first cup pre-regatta in Marseille, showed the Swiss still have what it takes despite the loss of their top helmsman. But with Chris Dickson's BMW Oracle Racing now leading the regatta, the spotlight is back on the defenders.

* Team New Zealand were ruing a small but costly mistake after a loss and a win on the opening day of matchracing in the pre-America's Cup yachting regatta in southern France.

In 14-knot winds off Marseille, they were beaten by American syndicate Oracle, before easily heading off South African newcomers Shosholoza.

Team NZ said NZL82 showed good upwind speed on the first beat against Oracle and, after a tacking duel at the top of the leg, rounded the top mark 19s in front.

However, on the first run, the American boat demonstrated its downwind pace.

Two-thirds of the way down the leg, the yachts split and USA76 was able to claim the right-hand side, gaining the favoured left-hand side on the next beat.

At the top mark, Oracle had moved into a 25s advantage, which was extended to 42s at the finish.

Against Shosholoza, Team NZ won a close start, before pulling away on the first leg to lead by 1m 18s at the top mark with a final winning margin of 2m 1s.

Oracle and America's Cup defenders Alinghi ended the day as the only teams in the six-boat fleet with two wins.