Brad Butterworth
Encyclopedia
Bradley William Butterworth, OBE
(born 1959) is a world-renowned yachtsman known for the role he played as tactician and skipper in the America's Cup
for Team New Zealand
and the Alinghi
team of Switzerland
.
He was born in Te Awamutu
, New Zealand
in 1959. He has been sailing since age six.
Butterworth has sailed and been successful in many international sailing competitions, including the Admiral's Cup
, the Kenwood Cup, the Sydney to Hobart Race, the Fastnet Race, the Whitbread Round The World Race
and the America's Cup
.
1987 was a busy year as he was the skipper of the top-ranked Admiral's Cup
boat Propaganda when New Zealand won the Admiral's Cup
in England after being aboard New Zealand's first America's Cup
challenge in Fremantle
as tactician earlier in the same year. He has been involved in the America's Cup in almost every event since 1983 and in the winning team four times, twice as challenger and twice as defender.
He was also a watch captain on Steinlager II with Peter Blake
when she won the 1989-90 Whitbread Round The World Race
and skipper of a Whitbread 60 (later Volvo Ocean 60) class boat in the 1993/1994 race where he was associated with Dennis Conner and Tom Whidden
.
Butterworth was tactician on the America's Cup winning teams of 1995 and 2000, both times winning the America's Cup match 5-0. He was awarded OBE after the 1995 event.
After the successful defense of the America's Cup in Auckland in 2000 the then skipper, Russell Coutts
, tactician Butterworth and several other members of the New Zealand team moved to the Alinghi
team. They then won the America's Cup in 2003, beating Team New Zealand 5-0 in waters near Auckland. After Russell Coutts
left Alinghi in March 2005, Butterworth became skipper himself and went on to win the 2007 America's Cup in Valencia, again beating Team New Zealand, this time 5-2.
Public reaction in New Zealand to Butterworth and the other New Zealanders changing teams and moving to a Swiss team in 2000 was mixed. Some supported the move believing they were simply professional sailors who had already previously sailed in non-New Zealand campaigns in other sailing events (including Butterworth's own participation in the 1983 Australian team in the America's Cup), while many others regarded this move as a betrayal particularly since the America's Cup was - at that time - running with predominantly nationality-based teams.
Butterworth's impressive unbeaten run of 16 wins in America's Cup racing dating back to 1995 came to an end on June 24, 2007 when the defender, Alinghi
, was beaten in the second race of the 2007 America's Cup
by the challenger Emirates Team New Zealand
.
In October 2009, Butterworth published an open letter commenting on the extensive litigation concerning the 33rd America's Cup. According to him, winning the America's Cup is akin to climbing the K2
mountain: something that only the top sportsmen in their field can achieve. He says: "Great sportsmen seek victory on the field of play, or in our sport; on the high seas. A sportsman seeking to win through the courts or through what Dennis called the 'backdoor' only demeans themselves as sportsmen and taints any victory, as well as the sport. Having challenged for and defended the America’s Cup successfully, I have always found it has been won by designing and building the fastest boat and sailing with the best team. It is hard to win, as it should be for such a trophy. Reducing the challenge might make the conquest easier, but gone is the attraction and achievement."
Butterworh was the skipper for the defending team Alinghi
in the 2010 America's Cup. His yacht Alinghi 5
lost to the challenging yacht USA 17 by a considerable margin. Most observers stated that USA 17's rigid wing sail had given it a decisive advantage.
Butterworth led a campaign on an Alinghi designed 66 foot race boat, NUMBERS, owned by American Daniel Meyers in 2007 and 2008 that resulted in winning; the maxi boat world championship in Sardinia, Cork Race Week in Ireland, and in the US, the New York Yacht Club annual regatta, the Palm Beach Race, the Lambert Ocean Race and the Palm Beach Race, Key West Race Week.
Butterworth was inducted into the America's Cup Hall of Fame
in 2004.
Butterworth lives in Switzerland with his wife, Maree, and his two children.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born 1959) is a world-renowned yachtsman known for the role he played as tactician and skipper in the America's Cup
America's Cup
The America’s Cup is a trophy awarded to the winner of the America's Cup match races between two yachts. One yacht, known as the defender, represents the yacht club that currently holds the America's Cup and the second yacht, known as the challenger, represents the yacht club that is challenging...
for Team New Zealand
Team New Zealand
Team New Zealand is a sailing team based in Auckland, New Zealand representing the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron.Team New Zealand has become a household name in their home country following their consecutive wins in the America's Cup in 1995 and 2000...
and the Alinghi
Alinghi
Alinghi is the syndicate set up by Ernesto Bertarelli, racing under the colors of the Société Nautique de Genève, to challenge for the America's Cup. Bertarelli had raced several smaller yachts named Alinghi previously, but 2003 was his first attempt at the America's Cup...
team of Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
.
He was born in Te Awamutu
Te Awamutu
Te Awamutu is a town in the Waikato in the North Island of New Zealand. It is the council seat of the Waipa District and serves as a service town for the farming communities which surround it...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
in 1959. He has been sailing since age six.
Butterworth has sailed and been successful in many international sailing competitions, including the Admiral's Cup
Admiral's Cup
The Admiral's Cup is an international yachting regatta. For many years it was known as the unofficial world championship of offshore racing. The Admiral's Cup regatta was started in 1957 and was normally a biennial event which was competed for between national teams. However the event was not...
, the Kenwood Cup, the Sydney to Hobart Race, the Fastnet Race, the Whitbread Round The World Race
Volvo Ocean Race
The Volvo Ocean Race is a yacht race around the world, held every three years. It is named after its current owner, Volvo...
and the America's Cup
America's Cup
The America’s Cup is a trophy awarded to the winner of the America's Cup match races between two yachts. One yacht, known as the defender, represents the yacht club that currently holds the America's Cup and the second yacht, known as the challenger, represents the yacht club that is challenging...
.
1987 was a busy year as he was the skipper of the top-ranked Admiral's Cup
Admiral's Cup
The Admiral's Cup is an international yachting regatta. For many years it was known as the unofficial world championship of offshore racing. The Admiral's Cup regatta was started in 1957 and was normally a biennial event which was competed for between national teams. However the event was not...
boat Propaganda when New Zealand won the Admiral's Cup
Admiral's Cup
The Admiral's Cup is an international yachting regatta. For many years it was known as the unofficial world championship of offshore racing. The Admiral's Cup regatta was started in 1957 and was normally a biennial event which was competed for between national teams. However the event was not...
in England after being aboard New Zealand's first America's Cup
America's Cup
The America’s Cup is a trophy awarded to the winner of the America's Cup match races between two yachts. One yacht, known as the defender, represents the yacht club that currently holds the America's Cup and the second yacht, known as the challenger, represents the yacht club that is challenging...
challenge in Fremantle
Fremantle, Western Australia
Fremantle is a city in Western Australia, located at the mouth of the Swan River. Fremantle Harbour serves as the port of Perth, the state capital. Fremantle was the first area settled by the Swan River colonists in 1829...
as tactician earlier in the same year. He has been involved in the America's Cup in almost every event since 1983 and in the winning team four times, twice as challenger and twice as defender.
He was also a watch captain on Steinlager II with Peter Blake
Peter Blake (yachtsman)
Sir Peter James Blake, KBE was a New Zealand yachtsman who won the Whitbread Round the World Race, the Jules Verne Trophy – setting the fastest time around the world of 74 days 22 hours 17 minutes 22 seconds on catamaran Enza, and led his country to successive victories in the America’s Cup...
when she won the 1989-90 Whitbread Round The World Race
Volvo Ocean Race
The Volvo Ocean Race is a yacht race around the world, held every three years. It is named after its current owner, Volvo...
and skipper of a Whitbread 60 (later Volvo Ocean 60) class boat in the 1993/1994 race where he was associated with Dennis Conner and Tom Whidden
Tom Whidden
Thomas A. Whidden is a sailor and sailmaker. He joined North Sails in 1986 and became President/CEO of North Marine Group when it was established ten years later...
.
Butterworth was tactician on the America's Cup winning teams of 1995 and 2000, both times winning the America's Cup match 5-0. He was awarded OBE after the 1995 event.
After the successful defense of the America's Cup in Auckland in 2000 the then skipper, Russell Coutts
Russell Coutts
Sir Russell Coutts, KNZM, CBE is a competitive sailor. His achievements include a Gold medal in the Finn Class in the 1984 Olympic Games, winning the America's Cup four times, the ISAF World Youth championships, three World Match Racing Championships, numerous international match race wins and...
, tactician Butterworth and several other members of the New Zealand team moved to the Alinghi
Alinghi
Alinghi is the syndicate set up by Ernesto Bertarelli, racing under the colors of the Société Nautique de Genève, to challenge for the America's Cup. Bertarelli had raced several smaller yachts named Alinghi previously, but 2003 was his first attempt at the America's Cup...
team. They then won the America's Cup in 2003, beating Team New Zealand 5-0 in waters near Auckland. After Russell Coutts
Russell Coutts
Sir Russell Coutts, KNZM, CBE is a competitive sailor. His achievements include a Gold medal in the Finn Class in the 1984 Olympic Games, winning the America's Cup four times, the ISAF World Youth championships, three World Match Racing Championships, numerous international match race wins and...
left Alinghi in March 2005, Butterworth became skipper himself and went on to win the 2007 America's Cup in Valencia, again beating Team New Zealand, this time 5-2.
Public reaction in New Zealand to Butterworth and the other New Zealanders changing teams and moving to a Swiss team in 2000 was mixed. Some supported the move believing they were simply professional sailors who had already previously sailed in non-New Zealand campaigns in other sailing events (including Butterworth's own participation in the 1983 Australian team in the America's Cup), while many others regarded this move as a betrayal particularly since the America's Cup was - at that time - running with predominantly nationality-based teams.
Butterworth's impressive unbeaten run of 16 wins in America's Cup racing dating back to 1995 came to an end on June 24, 2007 when the defender, Alinghi
Alinghi
Alinghi is the syndicate set up by Ernesto Bertarelli, racing under the colors of the Société Nautique de Genève, to challenge for the America's Cup. Bertarelli had raced several smaller yachts named Alinghi previously, but 2003 was his first attempt at the America's Cup...
, was beaten in the second race of the 2007 America's Cup
2007 America's Cup
The 2007 America's Cup was the thirty-second challenge for the America's Cup and was won by Alinghi in the 7th race. The Cup is the most famous and most prestigious regatta and Match Race in the sport of sailing....
by the challenger Emirates Team New Zealand
Team New Zealand
Team New Zealand is a sailing team based in Auckland, New Zealand representing the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron.Team New Zealand has become a household name in their home country following their consecutive wins in the America's Cup in 1995 and 2000...
.
In October 2009, Butterworth published an open letter commenting on the extensive litigation concerning the 33rd America's Cup. According to him, winning the America's Cup is akin to climbing the K2
K2
K2 is the second-highest mountain on Earth, after Mount Everest...
mountain: something that only the top sportsmen in their field can achieve. He says: "Great sportsmen seek victory on the field of play, or in our sport; on the high seas. A sportsman seeking to win through the courts or through what Dennis called the 'backdoor' only demeans themselves as sportsmen and taints any victory, as well as the sport. Having challenged for and defended the America’s Cup successfully, I have always found it has been won by designing and building the fastest boat and sailing with the best team. It is hard to win, as it should be for such a trophy. Reducing the challenge might make the conquest easier, but gone is the attraction and achievement."
Butterworh was the skipper for the defending team Alinghi
Alinghi
Alinghi is the syndicate set up by Ernesto Bertarelli, racing under the colors of the Société Nautique de Genève, to challenge for the America's Cup. Bertarelli had raced several smaller yachts named Alinghi previously, but 2003 was his first attempt at the America's Cup...
in the 2010 America's Cup. His yacht Alinghi 5
Alinghi 5
The Alinghi 5 is a LWL, beam sloop-rigged catamaran built by Alinghi for the 33rd America's Cup.It was launched on 8 July 2009 being lifted from the construction shed in Villeneuve, Vaud by a Mil Mi-26 helicopter and carried thereby to Lake Geneva. It was subsequently carried to Genoa, Italy...
lost to the challenging yacht USA 17 by a considerable margin. Most observers stated that USA 17's rigid wing sail had given it a decisive advantage.
Butterworth led a campaign on an Alinghi designed 66 foot race boat, NUMBERS, owned by American Daniel Meyers in 2007 and 2008 that resulted in winning; the maxi boat world championship in Sardinia, Cork Race Week in Ireland, and in the US, the New York Yacht Club annual regatta, the Palm Beach Race, the Lambert Ocean Race and the Palm Beach Race, Key West Race Week.
Butterworth was inducted into the America's Cup Hall of Fame
America's Cup Hall of Fame
The America's Cup Hall of Fame, located at the Herreshoff Marine Museum of Bristol, Rhode Island, USA, honors individuals for outstanding achievement in the America's Cup sailing competition...
in 2004.
Butterworth lives in Switzerland with his wife, Maree, and his two children.