BMW Oracle signs Coutts for next America’s Cup

BMW Oracle have signed three-times America’s Cup winner Russell Coutts to lead their next challenge.
The US syndicate’s challenge has not yet been accepted by defender Alinghi while a legal wrangle hangs in the air.
Coutts skippered New Zealand’s successful challenge for sailing’s most prestigious prize in 1995 and defended it in 2000 before signing up to lead new Swiss syndicate Alinghi for the 2003 America’s Cup, taking five of his long-time team mates with him.
The core Kiwi crew were credited with winning the America’s Cup for a European team for the first time since the event began in 1851 but soon after their victory Coutts fell out with Alinghi boss Ernesto Bertarelli and was sacked from the team.