In an exclusive interview with the New Zealand Herald newspaper, the most successful America's Cup sailor in the sport's history has praised Team New Zealand's new helmsman Peter Burling as "probably the greatest sailing talent of our time". The 53-year-old sailing superstar Coutts, who has won the most coveted trophy in international sailing five times himself, told the newspaper on the 20th anniversary of Team New Zealand's historic 5-0 victory over Dennis Conner's Team Stars & Stripes off San Diego: "The interesting thing about him (ed.: Peter Burling) is that he can adapt to almost any type of boat and sail it well. He has the potential to have a long career with a group of young people around him."
Coutts is known, loved and hated in his homeland as the man who helped New Zealand win the Cup in 1995, played a key role in its successful defence in 2000 and then took the trophy back from the land of the long white cloud in 2003 in the service of the Swiss team Alinghi. His praise for the 24-year-old high-flyer, Moth world champion and Olympic silver medallist Peter Burling comes at just the right time for the Kiwis, as the team around his boss Grant Dalton is fighting for financial survival.
After the Cup defenders and their conductor Russell Coutts cancelled the pre-regattas originally planned for New Zealand in agreement with the challengers and moved them completely to the Cup area of Bermuda, the New Zealand Cup team now lacks the otherwise so great and also financial backing at home. Recently, however, a major sponsor, the airline Emirates, reaffirmed its loyalty to Team New Zealand. Coutts' bow to the talents of Peter Burling, who is also an Olympic favourite in the 49er for 2016, comes at the right time for the Kiwis in the battle for more sponsorship money.
Tatjana Pokorny
Sports reporter
