Cup, so opened another chapter in the brilliant sailing career of Russell Coutts.

Exhibiting all the tactical and technical expertise that has stamped him as the best match racer worldwide, the New Zealand native put on an impregnable display, beating countryman Chris Dickson 3-0 in the final to become only the second six-time winner of the cup.

Dominant during starting manoeuvres, unerringly locating the right shifts and crewing with machine-like precision, Coutts and his team of Brad Butterworth, Simon Daubney and Warwick Fluery never gave Dickson the light of day.

Such was the dominance of the Kiwi's performance that he led at every mark, leaving his opponent at a constant loss.

"He took what he wanted and had the ability to achieve what he wanted to achieve and the rest of us got the left-overs ... and the left-overs weren't much today,'' commented Dickson, making a belated return to the match racing scene after a six year absence.

"Across the board he was starting better, sailing better, sailing the boat quicker than anyone and they were just doing a better job across the board. If we started even they were going to go past us. If we started less than even they were going to be gone, and I had the feeling if we started ahead of them they were still going to sail around us.

"So they were sailing very well and full marks to them. We have a crew that haven't sailed together before and we were happy to go as far as we did.'' For his part Coutts was happy to bask in the glow of yet another triumph on Bermuda waters, he and his crew sipping champagne and accepting the accolades of fellow competitors and fans alike ... not to mention a cool $20,000 in winnings.

"I'm real happy with the way we sailed this week, because we took a break from it after the (America's) Cup,'' said Coutts, who in recent months has been busy in his new role as skipper and executive director of Ernesto Bertarelli's new Swiss challenge for the America's Cup.

"But it didn't take us long. Right from the start of this week I felt we gelled together as a team and that's actually unusual for us, so the early signs were good.

"We had a pretty clear strategy and as a sailing team we've sailed together a lot and that helps even in all the pre-start manoeuvres.

"So I think that this week was a particularly good week for us.

"The whole team performed well. I think if you put me with a different team I don't think I'd win this event ... in fact I know I wouldn't win this event, it's that simple.

"All those guys are so skilled in what they do and I'm glad I've got them in Switzerland with me.'' Indeed the strategy for Coutts yesterday was to win the start and get to the right side, which unfurled as the favoured side throughout the final series, with higher pressure and cleaner air. Dickson admitted to being a bit rusty in his method of engagement, and this was always going to bee costly against the finely tuned machine of Coutts and Co.

Hence similar scenarios unravelled in all three races, with Coutts going right, Dickson forced left ... game, set, match.

Coutts reigns supreme From Page 27 Still, Coutts warned against anyone betting against Dickson -- particularly if Coutts was not the one warranting the wager -- down the line.

"Chris is a fabulous sailor, we all know that,'' stated Coutts, set to jet out today for a much deserved Caribbean vacation. "He's working on developing a new team around him and I'm sure we're going to see Chris Dickson and the guys winning a few of these regattas in the future.'' Dickson's future plans include preparing Oracle Racing's challenge for the next America's Cup, as well as a greater presence on the Grand Prix tour.

"You get better at this from doing it, we've done one in six years, so we'll get back on the circuit and do half a dozen or so, we can only get better,'' he added.

Meanwhile, the Petite Final saw America's Ed Baird come from behind to beat young Australian phenom James Spithill 2-1 and grab third place.

Earlier in the day, during the delayed semi-finals, Coutts defeated Baird 3-1, while Dickson extinguished Spithill by a similar margin.

Dickson walked away with $12,000. Baird received $7,000 and Spithill got $5,800 out of the $80,000 total purse.

Landing in the fifth through eighth spots were Peter Gilmour ($4,500), Murray Jones ($4,100), Magnus Holmberg ($3,475) and Peter Holmberg ($3,475).

Photos by Arthur Bean Champagne delight: Warwick Fluery (far right) enjoys the bubbly in celebration of victory as a member of Russell Coutts' team at the Colorcraft Gold Cup.

Also pictured (from right) are Simon Daubney, Coutts and Brad Butterworth.

They're off! New Zealand's Russell Coutts (7) leads Chris Dickson from the starting line during yesterday's final of the Colorcraft Gold Cup.