Coutts- 'Louis Vuitton a big boost for sailing'

by BMW ORACLE Racing Media Team on 8 Nov 2008
With the action underway on various fronts in the America's Cup, the BMW Oracle Media Team conducted a debrief with their CEO and skipper, Russell Coutts on the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series: and his views on the on going debate between his long time friend, and Alinghi counterpart, Brad Butterworth over the 33rd America's Cup.

Q1. You attended the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series meetings in Paris – how is the event shaping up?

It’s fantastic that the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series has attracted such an impressive group of world-class group of competitors. That’s what we all want to do – race against the best in the world.

Q2. Those competitors include Alinghi, the America’s Cup Defender– are you looking forward to racing against them?

Absolutely. It will be great for us to have the opportunity to race against Alinghi and the other top competitors in America’s Cup boats. The LVPS will be a big boost for international sailing, and we’re glad to be a part of it.

Q3. Some people say this is competitive with the AC – how do you respond?

In fact, the LVPS is complementary to the America’s Cup. It fills a pressing need for an America’s Cup-caliber multi-challenger regatta with world-class sailing teams competing under fair rules that promote real competition.

Q4. How does this series address the issue of cost in light of the world economic conditions?

The LVPS is a terrific, cost-effective way to get world-class teams back on the water soon. We’re happy to contribute our boats to the match race. USA 87 and USA 98 are en route to Auckland as we speak and we anticipate they will arrive in New Zealand in early December.

Q5. Besides lending the boats, how else is BOR involved?

We’re excited to be participants, but this is Louis Vuitton’s event, supported by a wide range of organizations including the New Zealand Government, the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, and Emirates Team New Zealand. Sailing is a team sport in many ways – including running a regatta like this. Congratulations to Louis Vuitton’s Yves Carcelle, Louis Vuitton Cup Founder Bruno Troublé, and Team New Zealand’s Grant Dalton for creating an event that is well on its way to becoming an instant classic.

Q6. Are you looking forward to heading home?

I’m looking forward to racing again in New Zealand, and to be in America’s Cup Class yachts for the first time since 2003.

Q7. How’s your relationship with Brad Butterworth?

We’re still friends, but we’re competitors first.

Q8. Are you making any progress in resolving the impasse about the America’s Cup?

We remain hopeful we can break the logjam. We would like nothing better than a fully competitive, multi-challenger America’s Cup on the water as early as 2010. We have offered repeatedly to drop on our lawsuit if Alinghi commits to fair rules and our offer still stands. What we’re fighting against are unfair rules like the Defender appointing the judges, changing the rules at any time for any reason, and excluding or disqualifying a Challenger at any time. We stand willing and able to meet with Alinghi and all the other competitors to discuss the future of the Cup but without unreasonable preconditions.