Butterworth - I'll defect if it means a crack at the America's Cup

10:21 AM Sun 28 Mar 2010 GMT

''Adieu, Ernesto?' 33rd America's Cup, Ernesto Bertarelli, Brad Butterworth' Carlo Borlenghi/ Alinghi &copy

Brad Butterworth is determined to sail in the next America's Cup, unequivocally shunning retirement talk, admitting he would sail for a new syndicate to chase his dream of winning back the Auld Mug, should his current team fold.

The Alinghi skipper was back in New Zealand during the past week for a holiday after (for once) sailing in the losing syndicate during last month's deed-of-gift match with the new America's Cup holder Oracle.

Previously, the Alinghi skipper had hinted last month's acrimonious campaign, pitting him against his old mate Sir Russell Coutts, might be his last.

There's also general uncertainty as to what Alinghi owner Ernesto Bertarelli's next move will be.

Butterworth, 51, an America's Cup hall-of-famer, will return to his Geneva team base tomorrow and open talks with a bruised Bertarelli on the syndicate's future.

In an exclusive interview with the Star-Times, Butterworth said if Bertarelli does pull the pin he's determined his illustrious sailing career won't end on a bum note. And if that meant defecting to another team, so be it.

'I hope it doesn't come to that,' he said. 'All the sailing squad and designers that were in Alinghi are very motivated to carry on.

'But it is for Ernesto to decide.

'It has been a tough time for him having to fight things in the United States.

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by stuff.co.nz