Sir Russell Coutts was born on 1 March 1962 and is a world champion New Zealand yachtsman.
11 Facts About Russell Coutts
2.
In 2021 Russell Coutts criticised the New Zealand Government's response to COVID-19, suggesting that the government was acting like a dictatorship by establishing vaccine mandates and enforcing managed isolation.
3.
In February 2022 Russell Coutts announced that he would attend the Convoy 2022 New Zealand anti-mandate protest in Wellington.
4.
Russell Coutts' achievements include a gold medal in the Finn class in the 1984 Olympic Games, winning the America's Cup five times, the ISAF World Youth championships, three World Match Racing Championships, numerous international match race wins and IOR, IMS and One Design World Championship victories.
5.
Russell Coutts was CEO of the Oracle Team when it won the America's Cup twice with 14 wins and 16 losses.
6.
In July 2007, Russell Coutts was named CEO and Skipper of BMW Oracle Racing, sponsored by Golden Gate Yacht Club, the United States Challenger to the 2010 America's Cup.
7.
Russell Coutts was involved in the pre-match litigation between the challengers Golden Gate Yacht Club and Societe Nautique de Geneve, in which the court decided that the GGYC was the rightful Challenger of Record.
8.
Russell Coutts again led the Oracle Team as CEO in the next America's Cup match against Emirates Team New Zealand.
9.
In New Zealand, Russell Coutts has been honoured with appointment as a Member of the Order of the British Empire in the 1985 New Year Honours and then elevation to the rank of Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 1995 Queen's Birthday Honours.
10.
Russell Coutts was made a Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2000 Queen's Birthday Honours, and redesignated as a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in August 2009.
11.
Russell Coutts has been named ISAF Sailor of the Year twice.