New Zealand America's Cup sailor Russell Coutts is sailing back on Auckland's Waitemata Harbour for the first time in 6 years, hoping for success both on and off the water in the upcoming Louis Vuitton Pacific Series.
Coutts now heads the BMW Oracle syndicate which is locked in a long-running legal battle with the Swiss America's Cup holder Alinghi over how and when the next event should be held.
The Auckland regatta will be the first competitive gathering of America's Cup teams since the court saga began, and Russell Coutts hopes it will provide the chance to talk things through - even if the court process can't be headed off.
The Auckland regatta will be sailed in the first two weeks of February with up to ten teams sharing the boats of Team New Zealand and BMW Oracle
