1 Feb 2009

RUSSELL COUTTS PONDERS HOW TO IMPROVE AMERICA'S CUP WHILE IN AUCK

1:33 pm on 1 February 2009

Three times America's Cup winner Russell Coutts has conceded his team made mistakes in their defeat at the hands of Team New Zealand on the second day of the Louis Vuitton sailing regatta in Auckland.

Team New Zealand has a bye today, after beating the skipper whose team took the America's Cup from them in Auckland six years ago.

Russell Coutts syndicate is now locked in a lengthy legal battle with the Swiis holders of the Cup Alinghi, over how and when the next Cup should be sailed.

Coutts says while the final court hearing in New York next month probably can't be avoided - having Alinghi and other teams at the Auckland regatta might prompt discussion on how to smoothe the path to future America's Cup events.