Russell Coutts

By Laurie Fullerton

The Moet Cup in San Francisco during the week of Sept. 15-20 gave Oracle a 4-3 win over Alinghi in the pro-driver series. Arriving halfway through the racing from his home in Switzerland, three-time America's Cup champion Russell Coutts, took a backseat to the racing this past week. He is focusing on promotional and corporate before "I can become a sailor again." Fully intending to get back behind the wheel for the 2007 Cup, Coutts took a moment from his full schedule to discuss Alinghi's plan to change the America's Cup for the betters. While the conversation took place before the outcome of the Moet Cup, this landmark regatta is just the beginning for sailing fans with a new venue for the next Cup to be announced on December 15 and a repeat performance of this San Francisco regatta set for Newport, R.I. in mid-June, 2004.


What is it about the Alinghi philosophy that will change the face of the America's Cup when it comes to Europe in 2007?

RC
First of all, sailors are not used to the business side of sailing. The formation of the whole Alinghi thing has been a big success. Many companies have that goal or mission but we pushed behind those goals, we reinforced them and we use them. You have to keep exploring and keep re-inventing.

Sailing has not had a cohesive or consistent marketing drive. It has held onto those traditional ways of managing sport. Other sports that are professional, the PGA, the NBA, the NFL have evolved because they all had a professional management body behind them. The America's Cup has long been a victim of its early success because it was an organized sport long before there was such a thing as a professional sports team. We are realizing that you can put racing boats on any course and they can still win. You can change the dimension of the field but you can still go out there and win.


Do you think sailing has a chance to make it into the mainstream of sports coverage here in the USA and elsewhere?

RC
People are looking for new sports these days. Companies are looking for new sports. Sailing/yachting is a fantastic sport where you can bring people out to experience it, to entertain them while they are watching a sport. People are looking for that. We can do a lot to improve television coverage. There are easy, small fixes. I don't think it is difficult. I can imagine a venue where the pre-start will be set near a grandstand and with the large television screens the spectators can follow the racing.


Was this Moet Cup a kind of measuring stick for how much interest there is in the United States for America's Cup racing?

RC
San Francisco is the best venue for racing in the world. We also came here because Larry Ellison invited us to come. It has been a very successful week already. You don't get a better spectacle at this level. The Moet Cup is important. We want to present a certain image and we want to know as a team we are trying our best on a certain day.


Is Alinghi beginning to recruit and prepare for the 2007 America's Cup as yet?

 

RC
The preparations have already begun for the next America's Cup. The major difference in our philosophy is we are not the challenger. We need to develop two teams that are capable of a fantastic level of competitiveness at a similar level with the challengers. Previously, it was a long time between drinks. The races now will become more and more competitive starting with the June regatta in Newport in 2004. We want to get three helmsmen into the mix. If you sail against the same people day in/day out we will not be as competitive. We need to stay very competitive as the defender.

 


Speculation is that it will cost at least $100 million for a challenger to launch an America's Cup campaign. How will you keep the challengers coming as the cost continues to rise?

RC
In history, the team with the most money has not always won the race. It is how you use your budget and how you make your decisions. There is a reason this event has lasted for 150 years. We think there is a lot more opportunity right now for a new team. If we can increase the revenue and the sponsorship, we can increase the appeal. Alinghi has been working very hard on all the commercial aspects.


How will the Cup being held in Europe help the America's Cup?

RC
For the good of the sport, Europe is the best choice. This event in Europe will be the best one yet. Imagine rolling 15 syndicates into town. As the planning develops, the main objective of AC Management is to retain the "Match" as the prime event. The pre-regattas on the East Coast and in Europe, the challenger series, will all lead up to the actual Match.


Do you see yourself at the helm of Alinghi in 2007 and how much do you think talent over training plays into a position like yours?

RC
I look at the ability I have been given in sailing and there is some natural talent there but you soon realize when you get out and race that you cannot stay at that level if you walk away from it for months at a time. I have got some natural ability but you have to have the right ability. As a sailor, I keep trying to improve every time I go out sailing.


What kind of new team members are you recruiting or looking for?

RC
We have already brought some skilled people onto the team. We have hired four or five new sailors and we have reinforced that with some new enthusiasm. We are in competition with other syndicates as well. As far as our designers go with have Rolf Vrolijk, Grant Simmer, Michael Richelson, Alan Jenkins. The team has also recruited Juan Vila as tactician, who has sailed in four Around the World races, including navigating the illbruck Challenge to victory in the most recent Volvo Ocean Race.


Will there be more sharing of technology in the next America's Cup?

RC
I think that protecting the technology is wrong, and is not a valid approach to winning. We just have to build the best team we can. We are encouraging our designers to go out and work on other projects. You can get some of the best ideas by thinking outside the box. We are encouraging the sailors to go out and race at other venues. If you sail against the same people day in and day out you are not going to be as competitive.


Apparently, many Swiss people wear their Alinghi hats and backpacks all over the country. When you walk down the street, are you recognized? And, do you like living in Switzerland?

RC
When I walk down the street in Geneva, I get stopped. I am trying to get involved in more high-level regattas in Switzerland. There is so much interest in sailing there, now. My wife and I like to experience a new country. We are going to try skiing.


How would you describe this era in America's Cup racing?

RC
In a sense we are sitting here with the opportunity to start a brand new sport because essentially sailing started to walk before it could crawl. Sailing as a professional sport is being re-born. I am excited about increasing peoples' understanding of this sport. We are starting from a good platform. It is good technology. This isn't going to be 100 percent perfect. There is a lot of thinking, and a lot of learning going on. For the good of the sport, we need to develop and we want to get started now.

Laurie Fullerton