Coutts chatted amiably to Irish pre-teens about his favourite sailing classes, how he got started sailing P-class dinghies in New Zealand, and of course the new Eagle Star/Affinity Insurance product he was there to help launch. (The latter went over their heads, but their parents caught it.)
Afloat can confirm that capsize drills were not discussed during this meeting.
But while training off Valencia in 17-20 knots yesterday, Coutts and other members of the BMW Oracle team found themselves in the drink after a luffing match ended with the Extreme 40 which Coutts was helming flying a hull before it stuttered on the brink, and dipped its mast in the water.
No-one else suffered any injuries, but the BMW Oracle skipper received nine stitches to close a gash in his leg, sustained as they tried to right the boat. The mast was also broken in the process.
We here at Afloat HQ can't help but remember what the world's suavest Navan Man did when he capsized his 40-foot catamaran in a similar luffing match. For those who have seen The Thomas Crown Affair, a 1999 remake of a 1968 heist film, you'll remember a scene featuring actor Pierce Brosnan sprinting across the tramp of a catamaran, aggressively grinding a winch with no rope on it, then engaging the opposition in a luffing match and capsizing his F40 catamaran at some speed. And in the face of all that danger, Navan man just laughed.
You don't get to be James Bond for nuthin'.
Here's some Extreme 40 action for you:
