Hitting a wave of good form at just the right time, Russell Coutts was yesterday crowned King Edward VII Gold Cup winner for the seventh time - the most by any skipper in the prestigious regatta's history.

The 42-year-old New Zealander surpassed Bermuda's A.F. (Bert) Darrell as the most successful Gold Cup campaigner after the final day of racing was cancelled because of gale-force gusts and an uncannily white-capped Hamilton Harbour.

Coutts' ascension to the top spot therefore hinged on three finals races against Australia's James Spithill on Saturday which saw him leading 2-1 overnight. Race officials had amended regulations to stipulate the champion would be the first skipper to win four points but the weather had the last say.

The Petit Final - also changed to require the winner to capture three points instead of two - saw American Ed Baird get the better of New Zealander Scott Dickson 2-1, again based on Saturday's results.

Coutts and Spithill had advanced to the finals earlier on Saturday morning with crushing 3-0 victories over Dickson and Baird respectively.

“Obviously I like coming here - I like the conditions - and it shows. To have won it seven times, I'm honoured, especially to get presented with this miniature trophy. It's a nice surprise,” declared Coutts who received not only the hefty Gold Cup but also a smaller version of it from the Darrell family to herald the landmark occasion.

Flanked by his crew of Rasmus Kostner, Christian Kamp and Jes Gram Hansen - the 2002 Danish runner-up - Coutts swigged on champagne and appreciatively pocketed the $30,000 cheque for first place. His triumph also means he has replaced Baird atop the Swedish Match Tour standings with 45 points.

“By the end of this regatta we were sailing very well and I have really enjoyed racing with this team,” said the highly-esteemed Americas Cup helmsman reflecting on how well he has done here since his maiden Gold Cup victory in 1990.

“The whole format at this event is great with the unseeded skippers sailing against the seeded skippers. There have been some memorable wins for me over the years and it is a high-level game. I am not disappointed with the win even though it's too bad we couldn't race today.”

Regarding his vital 2-1 outcome in the first three races of the final on Saturday, he noted “we knew those races would be important (but) we didn't realise quite that important”. However, his goal was always “to finish the day ahead”.

The third and ultimately decisive race - given the aborted match - was a thrilling nail-biter which saw Spithill, who won the first race before conceding the second, force Coutts close to the concrete wall that lines the waterfront. However, with a pre-start penalty already to his name, Spithill was doomed as he committed another infringement which necessitated an immediate penalty turn, thus allowing Coutts an easy path to the finish.

“We were trying to get a penalty back on Russell and we sailed in as close as we could to the wall,” explained Spithill who was undefeated in this event before facing Coutts.

“We treat him like any other competitor but he is very tough and we may not have sailed as well in the last race.”

The 25-year-old, in his third Gold Cup quest, acknowledged his frustration at not having a chance to conclude their absorbing duel but vowed to be back.

Baird, too, pledged to return as he has a score to settle with the Bermudian match-race series.

“I must have a record for the skipper with the most number of third places in the Gold Cup. I think this is five times now I've finished third.

“I don't want to be worst than that but I would certainly like to have a chance at the top two (positions) before too long,” said the 46-year-old who was disappointed not to have performed better in his semi-final.

“Some days are like that. We didn't have our best day.”

Meanwhile, Dickson was extremely pleased to place fourth having begun the Gold Cup among the unseeded ranks.

“I'm not at all disappointed with how the regatta finished. We sailed well against Russell Coutts (in the semi-finals) and against Ed Baird and we're very encouraged all-around,” stated the 33-year-old, adding that this result would be in the top-four towards his year-end rankings.

“We came here to race against these guys. To be out here sailing in the final four with the best in the world - that is why we came.”

Baird, 46, pointed out that the Gold Cup was becoming increasingly challenging as unseeded skippers such as Dickson “are highly skilled in match racing so the gap is much narrower”.