Sir Russell Coutts rolled back the years in Hamilton Harbour yesterday.

The legendary Kiwi sailor was among the crew that captured line honours in two fun-filled races at the same venue where he won a record seven King Edward VII Gold Cup titles in the International One Design racing sloop between 1990 and 2004.

“I have a lot of fond memories sailing in the harbour in the Gold Cup,” Coutts said with a grin. “The wind is just as shifty as it ever was.”

Coutts was among three teams comprised of America’s Cup Event Authority (ACEA) staff and the Oracle Team USA sailors Matt Cassidy, Sam Newton and Graham Spence who faced off in the J-80 keelboat.

“We got everyone out of the office to experience what sailing is like in Bermuda and I think everyone had fun,” added Coutts, who is also an Olympic gold medal-winner and the most successful skipper in America’s Cup history with an unblemished 14-0 record in finals. “We had a rule that the helmsman had to be a non-sailor — and they had fun.

“I was just taking commands; taking orders from the girls.”

Harvey Schiller, the ACEA commercial commissioner, also showed off his sea legs. “It was a good day for sailing,” he said, as he strolled off the dock at the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club (RBYC).

Yesterday’s racing was designed as a team-bonding exercise for ACEA staff who also attended various meetings and workshops at the weekend.

The races were organised by RBYC sailor Adam Barboza and Tom Herbert-Evans, the club’s sailing academy director.

Evans, who hails from Wales, is the first sailor to circumnavigate the Island in an Optimist dinghy.