In an exclusive interview with YACHT online in Bermuda, America's Cup boss Russell Coutts gave deep insights into the current Cup world and his thoughts on the present and future of the oldest trophy in the sporting world. The five-time America's Cup winner and conductor of the 35th edition made no secret of his admiration for his New Zealand compatriots.
Mr Coutts, everyone is talking about the young New Zealand helmsman Peter Burling. As a seven-time world champion, Moth King and 49er Olympic champion, he was already known as an exceptional sailor before the America's Cup. However, the fact that he is also performing at an extremely high level in his debut America's Cup is now increasingly leading to comparisons with you. Do you like this comparison, do you see parallels between Burling and yourself?
Oh man, I would feel really honoured if that were the case! Peter Burling is certainly an incredible talent. He has now proved that under pressure. We were all wondering whether he could prove his class in the America's Cup. And let's be honest: he has surpassed Jimmy Spithill this time.
Can you see and say what characterises this intuitive and at the same time technically detail-obsessed helmsman?
I don't see that much. I hear what people say. He's just an incredible talent and it looks like he's mastered the technical side of the sport too. He can jump into a Moth and become world champion. He can jump into a 49er and win gold. He can obviously jump into anything and win. That's the quality of a true champion in the style of Paul Elvstrøm or people of his calibre. The guy is so talented that he could probably sail in many different positions and always excel. He is definitely the future star of our sport.
Do you think Larry Ellison will remain loyal to the America's Cup if his Oracle Team USA loses the Cup to the Kiwis?
(Thinks.) I haven't spoken to Larry about it yet. But I think he would be interested in keeping the current Cup format. If that wasn't the case for the future, then I'm not so sure he would be interested. But of course that's his decision.
We heard that you had dinner here in Bermuda with your former Alinghi boss Ernesto Bertarelli, whose team you parted company with after winning the Cup in 2003...
Yes, he was here. He's a passionate observer of the America's Cup. We had a nice dinner together. We both enjoyed it, really enjoyed it - at least we got to have a decent conversation again. It was fun.
Some pundits believe that the Kiwis' dominance so far in this 35th Cup clash is even greater than that of your New Zealand team in 1995, when they beat the Americans 5-0.
I would consider them similar. There were races in 1995 where we beat the Americans by five minutes. You could argue that the differences in speed were even greater. But then those are pretty dull races. In both cases. I think even more so in San Diego.
Regardless of the outcome of this edition of the Cup, what is your topic for the future?
I am focussing more and more on the next generation, on youth sailing. One of our goals in this America's Cup was to address the weaknesses of our sport. The sport has an ageing demographic - which is not exactly the right recipe for growth in sailing. We need to do a better job of keeping young sailors in the sport. We need to offer them good programmes. That comes with challenges. Cost and complexity are two obstacles that do exist. We need to give young people more choices.
What do you mean by that?
That many youth development programmes around the world have set themselves the goal of producing optimist world champions. For me, however, it is this kind of false ambition that drives far too many young people out of sport far too early. Because these programmes are so intense. And I think that many children don't want to sail alone for so long either. Imagine what would happen to these kids if we didn't push them and teach them in this way, but gave them the opportunity to sail with a partner or with friends. If we told them: Of course you can take the Opti and have fun. But you can also take the windsurfer over there. How would that be? And if you want to take the boat with the foils over there, then go for it. If we were to expand the range in this way from a young age, I think we would not only see growth, but massive growth!
Is that an experience you have had?
I run some youth development programmes in New Zealand and I see time and time again what a fantastic sport sailing is. You can have boats of all shapes and sizes and for all interests. Some people may love sailing in a particular class of boat, but that doesn't mean they have to force it on everyone else. The magical thing about sailing is that it offers so many possibilities.
It is often the parents who believe they are doing the right thing for their children...
I've just said again to a whole group of parents in New Zealand: if your aim is to create an Olympic champion - which I don't think should ever be part of a development programme anyway - do you know that Ben Ainslie, the most successful Olympic sailor of all time, was 72nd in an Opti World Championship? That doesn't mean he wasn't good. He was great. Early top placings should not be seen as a yardstick for whether children will later become successful sailors. First of all, they should love the sport. Really love it! And if you have ignited this passion, then they will also find something in the sport that they are passionate about. You should just encourage them to find their way. That's my great passion at the moment.
Tatjana Pokorny
Sports reporter
