Assignment - The America's Cup

As soon as Team NZ lifted the 2000 America's Cup, dramas engulfed the sailors and management. Current affairs programme Assignment investigates the decision by skipper Russell Coutts and tactician Brad Butterworth to join billionaire Ernesto Bertarelli's Alinghi syndicate. What followed was an exodus of Kiwi sailors to the Swiss-based franchise. Reporter Kerryanne Evans interviews Coutts, Butterworth and Team NZ trustee Ralph Norris about the events that splintered a winning team. Businessman Douglas Myers (a backer of Sir Peter Blake) does not hold back his opinions on Coutts' decision.

I was incredibly bitter...the night we won because I knew half the team were leaving.

– Tactician Brad Butterworth on the dramas swirling around Team NZ in 2000

Key Cast & Crew

Peter Montgomery

Subject

Bill Denton

Editor

Kerryanne Evans

Reporter

Brett Cammell

Director

Colin McRae

Executive Producer

Mary Durham

Research