One of New Zealand's greatest sailors has floated the idea that Queenstown might be able to stage the world's most famous yachting regatta. Asked this week if Auckland should again host the America's Cup, five-time winner Sir Russell Coutts, a part-time Wakatipu resident, said: ''Why not have it in Queenstown?'' Sir Russell said land-locked Switzerland, which he won the cup for in 2003, could have hosted the following regatta. That lake was much bigger than Lake Wakatipu, but Sir Russell said the modern format was for racing to be held on tight circuits, close to the shore. Auckland-based Sir Russell, who built a home on the Crown Range about seven years ago, said he and his family ventured down as often as they could.

Source: Otago Daily Times November 02, 2016 17:32 UTC