EDITORIAL Coutts again makes waves off the water

• Published date: 27 March 2024
• Publication title: Daily Post, The (Rotorua, New Zealand)

He has given New Zealanders many golden moments in sports

His sailing achievements include a gold medal at the 1984 Olympic Games, winning the America’s Cup five times, World Youth championships, three world match racing championships, numerous international match race wins and he was skipper/helmsman in America’s Cup racing with Team New Zealand and Oracle US, with a perfect record with 15 wins and no losses (1995, 2000, 2003).

But his public criticism of race officials and environmental groups who cost a day of SailGP racing in Lyttelton last weekend, after a Hector’s dolphin was seen in the race area, was unwarranted and the behaviour of a spoilt brat.

“I find it astonishing the amount of influence iwi have over the authorities here in New Zealand,” Coutts said after the cancellation.

It’s not the first time Coutts has ruffled feathers.

Who could forget how in 2013 he masterminded one of the greatest comebacks in sports history — for the US against us?

His Oracle America’s Cup team came back from eight races to one down to win the next eight races and snatch victory from Team NZ and retain the oldest trophy in sports history.

Some New Zealanders saw this as an act of high treason.

Years earlier, New Zealanders had voiced their rage when Coutts and the brains trust of Team NZ, including Brad Butterworth, left with all their Kiwi expertise to set up with American billionaire Oracle...