Please select your home edition
Edition
Cyclops Marine 2023 November - LEADERBOARD

America's Cup - Russell Coutts - 'Never give up'

by Russell Coutts/Daily Telegraph on 24 May 2017
Sir Russell Coutts, CEO of the America’s Cup Event Authority America's Cup
Sir Russell Coutts, the current CEO of Oracle Team USA, has won the America’s Cup five times New Zealand-born Sir Russell Coutts skippered his nation to victory in the America’s Cup in 1995 and 2000 and Switzerland in 2003 before switching to a CEO’s role with Oracle Team USA and winning again in 2010 and 2013.

Now as chief executive of the America’s Cup Event Authority he has, along with Oracle’s Larry Ellison, been responsible for turning a niche event into a mainstream, premium sport.

It wasn’t a given that sailing would be my life. I was studying structural engineering when I entered the Olympics in 1984. It was a good interruption to win a medal [a gold in the Finn class sailing] but it was an interruption all the same, so by the time I graduated the 1987 crash had happened and there wasn’t a lot of work. It was my father’s suggestion to get involved with New Zealand’s America’s Cup bid in 1990. He thought it would only be for a few years, but it turned out to be a bit longer than that.

Dennis Conner was my inspiration

When I was growing up the America’s Cup and the sailing world was dominated by [four times winner] Dennis Conner. It was said he’d sail at least 320 days a year – his approach was to leave no stone unturned. He set the standard and was very much my inspiration. My other hero was the Danish sailor Paul Elvstrøm. He won four Olympic Golds and I wasn’t alone in thinking his record would never be beaten. Then Ben Ainslie came along and won four golds and a silver.

I was lucky to be sailing during the era that the America’s Cup became professional. Now sailors and the shore crew get paid properly but before 1990 the best anyone could hope for was a food allowance. It was an amateur competition and only really became fully professional in 1995.

For the rest of this story click here
Selden 2020 - FOOTERZhik 2024 March - FOOTERJ Composites J/45

Related Articles

Emirates Team NZ Store: Exclusive 20% discount
ETNZ Store: For a limited time, we're offering a storewide 20% discount on all our merchandise Enjoy an exclusive shopping experience at the Emirates Team New Zealand store with our special promotion! For a limited time, we're offering a storewide 20% discount on all our merchandise - ends April 29, 2024
Posted today at 1:49 am
Cup Spy April 26: Tow and Sail
Four teams were active - two in Barcelona and the others in Cagliari and Auckland Early Edition: Four teams were active - two in Barcelona and the other in Cagliari. As reported earlier Emirates Team NZ sailed in fresh winds in Auckland.
Posted on 26 Apr
RS Elites and RS Fevas at Antigua Sailing Week
Wall-to-wall sunshine, windward-leeward racing on Caribbean trade winds Wall-to-wall sunshine, windward-leeward racing on Caribbean trade winds, and amazing beach-side parties, Antigua Sailing Week is here for the 55th edition of this famous island regatta.
Posted on 26 Apr
The Transat CIC: how to follow the start
The 48 competitors will leave Lorient heading for New York on Sunday Switzerland's IMOCA racer Oliver Heer: Now I have my back to the wall. Inside, personally I feel a lot of pressure.
Posted on 26 Apr
52 Super Series 2024 starts this weekend
The counters have returned to zero After thrilling end to the 2023 52 SUPER SERIES circuit which saw Germany's Platoon, owned and steered by Harm Müller-Spreer, win the season title on tie-break, the five regatta 2024 circuit opens on Sunday.
Posted on 26 Apr
Last Chance Regatta at Hyères, France Day 6
Six Olympic dinghy places claimed by emerging nations Six of the eight men's and women's dinghy Olympic places on offer at the Last Chance Regatta were claimed by sailors supported by the World Sailing Emerging Nations Program on a rain-soaked final day of qualification at the Semaine Olympique Française.
Posted on 26 Apr
Antigua Wingfoil Championship Race Day 1
Participants of all ages and backgrounds at Antigua Sailing Week Against the lush green mountains of Antigua, colourful Wingfoil sails adorned the horizon, marking the commencement of Antigua Wingfoil Championship Race Day 1 during Antigua Sailing Week.
Posted on 26 Apr
Cup Spy Apr 25-26: Two Sailings, and a Reveal
Kiwis and Italians sailed, the Brits towed, while American Magic just popped out of the shed Three teams sailed today - one in Auckland and the others in Cagliari and Barcelona. American Magic gave an unexpected reveal today, when the US Challenger opened the shed door and saw daylight for the first time. The Brits tow-tested.
Posted on 26 Apr
59th Congressional Cup at Long Beach Day 2
First four advance to quarter-finals Closing out the opening round-robin stage of the 59th Congressional Cup today in Long Beach, the top four teams - Ian Williams/ GBR, Jeppe Borch/ DEN, Dave Hood/ USA and Gavin Brady/ USA, each advance to the Quarter-final stage of the event.
Posted on 26 Apr
Finns and French finish Ocean Globe Race
Galiana WithSecure and Evrika excape the windhole 40nm from the finish line It was a long, painfully slow final two days to complete their circumnavigation. But, finally, Galiana WithSecure FI (06) and Evrika FR (07) crossed the Royal Yacht Squadron finish line in a moody windless, moonlight Cowes arrival.
Posted on 25 Apr