Yeah Wolfgang....but Coutts is more to the point. He's the real thing and probably and arguably the best match racer in the world at this time. His experience in AC boats and his Cup experience all add up to a winning formula. And believe me, Russell Coutts scares the hell out of his former countrymen as the Kiwis are lodging a protest against the Swiss syndicate and Alinghi in the Vuitton Cup series which of course they aren't even in!!!

Now New Zealand has a crafty old coot all their own in Schnackenburg who claims he's just using a bit of the rules bad wording, but he has great experience in psyching the competition and as a sailmaker he's about tops as well.

Still way too early to tell as the American teams still have a chance. One of them will face the Swiss for the chance to compete in the Cup races, but only a fool would bet against Coutts at this point and the fact is that he's already got the the Kiwis excited by using their own trick (the "snap-on" hull extension) and also by just being Russell Coutts..........If Alinghi makes the Cup races, this should be one of the best Cups in many years! Truthfully though, if either American boat can beat him, the chances of a challenger winning are still pretty good.

Spaw