Russell Coutts takes his gloves off in Valencia
It's been yet another long day in Valencia that started at 10am in the Alinghi base and finished well after 8pm inside the meeting room set up in the temporary base of BMW Oracle in the commercial port. That's also the reason my report on the very interesting technical details given by Ed Baird and Rolf Vrolijk will be delayed.
As one can hear during the Alinghi presentation, most of Ernesto Bertarelli's and Brad Butterworth's remarks, as well as the questions asked, focused more on the politics and legal issues of the America's Cup rather than the sports side and that's what probably triggered Russell Coutts to summon the press half an hour after the end of Alinghi's media gathering.
We had the opportunity and privilege to tour the BMW Oracle temporary base with Russell Coutts as a guide and even entered the wing shed to have a close look, and even photograph, the impressive wing. Still, the key point of the afternoon, and probably of the day, was Coutts taking his gloves off to launch a vigorous verbal attack on Alinghi and its owner, Ernesto Bertarelli. It was the first time Coutts took the ongoing battle between the two teams to a personal level, after Alinghi "had gone out of their way to have personal attacks", on various members of his team, the latest being Larry. On the other hand, so far, his team has "worked hard not to personalize" the issues. For Coutts, the only issues are about the rules and only.
He wanted to "set the rules straight", being "tired of the immature, stupid cartoons and personal attacks coming out from the other side", referring to the cartoons regularly published on Alinghi's website. He stated he "restrained" for two and a half years but he wasn't going to put up with "this rubbish" any longer.
BMW Oracle's wing under maintenance. Valencia, 20 January 2010. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing
BMW Oracle's wing under maintenance. Valencia, 20 January 2010. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia SailingLabels: 33rd America's Cup, BMW Oracle, Russell Coutts, Valencia
51 Comments:
My god this is nothing but who spins the most PR bullshit Cup!!! The public is OVER IT. It's nothing but nasty, viscious, ego driven behaviour.
"a close look to the wing"?
Look at the alinghi photos - this is what I call a close look!
BOR is still hiding behind containers in the commercial harbour.
cartooning is the only possible answer for bmw oracles undeserving and childish behavior.
obviously they are fearing of loosing on water …
Ahhh / thanks for the close up look / now I can see that he additional piece is laminated to the original mats. If it had been bolted you could maybe claim assembly. Why can Oracle Rigid Wing in Valencia whilst at the same time claiming that Alinghi's sails aren't compliant on CiC ?
Well the facts seem to support most of what RC said.
I can't imagine what EB is thinking, without mutual consent he cannot use sails built in Nevada,USA.
Seems he is in serious trouble on this issue and is risking disqualification which would be a shame after 2.5 years of fighting litigation.
Oh well lets just get it over and get on with AC34.
Oh and great reporting pierre, thanks!!:-)
Russell Coutts hit the nail on the head, Alinghi need to grow up.
So Mr "greedy chicken" Coutts is showing his true face?
Come on Russell, you can attack EB all you want it does make yo a better person. You are selfish, dishonnest, a coward and the worst is you know it.
Feel sorry for your wife and especially your children.
I had to stop it. I couldnt listen to that guy speak anymore! He is so full of shit! They are the most lying greedy people I have ever met. Oh,yes, Oracle is way bigger than Alinghi´s team, personally and financially. From what I hear, nobody at oracle is happy!
Looks like the 3rd great BMWOR Americas Cup implosion is well underway!
Pobrecitos! Please Alinghi & BOR bring it to a end!
What' interesting about the Alinghi fans is that they have so much in common with their hero. The fact is they don't want to understand when they are breaking the rules of the Deed & those of sailing.
No Alinghi fan nor EB has yet to explain why they are avoiding common sense & common practices with the Deed, AC & sailing rules. Fact that they continue to do this is highlighted by all the losses in the NYSC & with the Expert Panel. Heaven help us that the denial continues when the IJ demands redress & maybe DSQ's Alinghi.
This was posted in another forum & it says a lot about the disgrace SNG continues at the expense of the AC & sailing.
http://i49.tinypic.com/20fu5wk.jpg
hurt feelings - angry man...
to 7:57
put it like this: why do you think that american law is running the world?
sounds like a Murray Dekker interview with you Russell*
This is so funny. Go Russell go. This clearly came from the grape.
@ 8:50 AM
It is not running the world but certainly is the legal basis for the AC. If you don't like that just stay away from the cup
anything else to suggest. Suggest suggest...
It's WW2 all over again, the swiss are ignoring all the facts and living in there own little world!
@ JamieF
love it or leave.... you must have a really red neck
More like his marigolds
now they have him by the nuts...what a pussy and how unprofessional of him!
Jamie F
That's exactly what BMWOR want. Good on Alinghi for resisting a bunch of spoilt, selfish and devious brats.
"It's WW2 all over again, the swiss are ignoring all the facts and living in there own little world!"
You may be right or wrong with your asumption, but it's definitely out of subject in this case. Maybe it would even be good for the world if Americans would live in there own little world only... or let's also talk about the shit Americans brought in this world since WW2 ... I know, there is so much said about Switzerland right now, but it's only about 7 million people and a most of them are not concerned by the picture you paint ... as are most of the Americans. So don't be stupid and stop bringing these false evidences.
BTW : Russell, it's time for you to climb on the ring, Ernesto is ready and waiting for you !
I cant believe it. This has to be the funniest thing i,ve heard in years. Is it just me or does rus sound like hè's had a few. I bet he woke up this morning wishing he had given it some thought before ranting on like some drunken bum in the street.
The best part is to hear him defending mr La la er mr er mr er la er ellison. Good on yer rus. Very entertaining indeed. I think you even had the media guys laughing.
Russell- you win them on the water...this 33 cup is a personal vengance and nobody is really interested... so don´t follow in Bertarellis footsteps please. Just win, like you always have. And the America´s Cup will return to normal with the 34th Cup...if Bertarelli wins this will never be over...
Russell, why on earth did you invite the press half an our after the end of the "Alinghis Press Day" to start this verbal attacks? I feel so sorry for you
RC nice bit of rambling on, hope your hangover is worse than mine is today.
I like like the part when hes trying to explain how LE is so much better at sailing a boat than EB. Sounds like a great time for the SNG to insert owner drive rule in to the 33rd AC like they have in the RC 44 class and the Farr 40then again thats how the Americas Cup use to be YOU OWN IT YOU DRIVE IT.... LE is no Ted Turner so Russell man up you get out there and sail on the thing your self....
What 50mil will get you.....
America's Cup Skipper Selects Flagg Coastal Homes
Coronado- based FLAGG COASTAL HOMES announces a new DESIGN/BUILD Contract with Sir Russell Coutts, the CEO of the BMW, Oracle Challenge for the America's Cup, which will be sailed in Valencia Spain in February. Russell purchased a Coronado property after he won the cup for New Zealand in 1995. Returning to Coronado last summer for sail training for BMW Oracle, he met with John OBrien owner of FLAGG in November and together they developed a design for his lot. With the agreed-upon design, FLAGG has signed a "fast-track" contract to complete the home for the Christmas holidays in 2010.
AEOTEROA
The proposed 2,800 square foot house located at the entry of Coronado Golf Course, blends the aesthetics of the small cottage homes in Devonport New Zealand with its' sister community of Coronado. In an interesting twist, John OBrien served in the Royal New Zealand Navy under an exchange program when he was a Midshipman in the U.S. Navy. Construction progress will be featured at Flagg.com commencing in March.
Want I want to know after enjoying
this press conference: There is a very visible logo of the german company BMW on the boat and what's about CIC in this case...?
Russell, delete this tape of the press conference a.s.a.p! It damages you immage seriously...
one of the funniest things ever, apart from turne sliding under the tabel!!! way to go BOFD Racing!
hey rus. go tell the boys in the sail loft that they have stuck the cup logog on the wing the wrong way round. Sticks out like dogs balls. Everyone knows the spout has to point forward.
Hey Pierre,
I wanted to play the recording to my kids so that hey can also have laugh. Unfotunately the rcording does not appear to work anymore. Perhaps russ found a way to stop it running.
Maybe RC just finally heard that Alinghi's boat won't measure in to the 90foot limit without the small rig in, boards down and all the crew plus full ballast aft.Lets watch the NOR convolutionsas they try to squeeze a bigger boat into the game.
I think Alinghi knows that BOR is already faster with the wing so they want to start on 8 Feb hoping that the wing is not fully optimized. That is the only small chance of wining for Alinghi. If they sign an agreement that delays the cup they sing their defeat.
How come the audio interview w. RC is not longer available?
From hero to zero.... There is nothing left more of RC than a little angry man! That is very sad!
Mon Dieu... Russell, what a hate!
"it's only about the rules!!!....."
Obviously RC is in TE's ass for too long. The legal fictions created in the head of TE start to become RC's reality... That is a tragedy!
Hey VS, were you threaten with court-cases if you don't remove the audio... ;-)
Russell you should see the new Alinghi cartoon it really sums up your message from yesterday.
Where is the Audio Gone? Can you please post it again.Thanks
to 7:57
put it like this: why do you think that american law is running the world?
8:50 AM
Well, funny story here but the trophy these guys are fighting for is called... Surprise! The AMERICA'S cup. So you are saying the cup should be governed by laws of some other country? Too bad, because America is the best, get over it.
Uffff.... ya ha sabemos de q va, como palmen el match se la comerá con patatas
8:50 AM - once again typical SNG & Alinghi fans answer which doesn't answer to the question.
Like EB you think the rules serve you both ways. The don't as sailing is a self regulating sport. When you don't the sport sorts you out & that's what happening to EB.
Again back up EB & your actions with regards to the issues lost in court & those coming up?
Until EB & you guys get a grasp on the sport you have no answers to backup your moves. All people get out of it is cheat.
Learn your history the Americas Cup is named after the Yacht Amreica that won the first CUP. Not after the stupid country. I am sick of all this bull, Everyone's being idiots and sailing has never been see in such bad light....
Amazingly there still is a link to RC inane rambling on the BOR blog page of thier site.
Coutts is finally exsposed for the hateful greedy little chap he is.Not happy being paid for not doing the cup last time and leaving his mates to tidy up he now has let his true emotions show the envy and jealousy he has for eb.
Coutts at his worst, what a wanker could not stop laughing when he defends Larry like a lap dog.
If Larry is so good he should steer and not worry about thye botox
should have slept on it what a child
Post a Comment
<< Home