Sir Russell Coutts went about his duties as America’s Cup Event Authority CEO yesterday as he would any other day.

However, it was no ordinary day for the legendary sailor, far from it.

Yesterday marked 20 years since Coutts’ Black Magic earned Team New Zealand its maiden America’s Cup victory after defeating Dennis Conner’s Stars & Stripes.

“Obviously the first time was special because it was the first New Zealand had won the America’s Cup and that was great times,” Coutts told The Royal Gazette.

After sweeping Conner 5-0 on the waters off San Diego to wrest the “Auld Mug” away from the American defender, Coutts and his crew received a hero’s welcome upon their return to New Zealand that included a ticker-tape parade.

“It was a huge celebration,” Coutts said. “It was a great time and we were all blown away.”

That Team New Zealand achieved its winning objective is truly remarkable given they had less funding than all the big teams they raced against and manpower to run two America’s Cup boats.

The Kiwis’ successful America’s Cup challenge in 1995 was built on several principles, including boat design, sailing skills and good chemistry on deck.

“The chemistry among the team was fantastic and we knew each other really well,” Coutts said.

“Some of us had sailed together from a young age, against each other in junior programmes and so forth, and the America’s Cup had always been a dream for ours.

“We used to always think about this but never actually thought we would be in this position so that was kind of cool.”

Coutts boasts one of the proudest records in America’s Cup history.

He never lost a race as helmsman with two separate teams and bowed out of America’s Cup racing with an unblemished 15-0 record.

“I am obviously proud of that record,” Coutts said. “I was involved with some great teams so it was probably fortunate I had great timing in terms of when I was involved and with some great people. We came close to losing a couple of times but managed to just stay in front.

“I had a lot of fun times in America’s Cup, a lot of good memories of the competition, it was great times.”