Money Makes the Cup Go Around

Alinghi syndicate head Ernesto Bertarelli has provided Team NZ a multimillion dollar “no-strings” loan to ensure their presence at the 2007 America’s Cup. “In [Bertarelli’s] view, the regatta would lose some of its appeal without us,” said Team NZ general manager, Grant Dalton. “It would be like holding the [soccer] World Cup without Brazil.” In other Cup news, Russell Coutts is embroiled in a legal battle with Alinghi over his controversial dismissal from the team. According to Swiss weekly L’Illustre, Coutts is now planning to launch a new and improved sailing competition, offering a more level playing-field. “I think especially that a system to control costs should be set up to allow the syndicates that are less well-off to be really competitive,” he stated in the interview.