Under the blare of boat horns and the watchful eye of a visiting ESPN TV crew, Russell Coutts yesterday made history with his fourth Gold Cup victory, sapping the strength of arch-rival Peter Gilmour 3-2 in the final of the $100,000 Brut Gold Cup in Hamilton Harbour.

Australian Gilmour was in a seemingly unassailable position as he possessed a 2-0 lead and had a pre-start penalty pinned on New Zealander Coutts in the crucial third match of the five-race-series... A cloud of doom and gloom hovered above the pro-Kiwi camp, but there was no such fatality among the crew of the world's number one ranked match-racer and winner of the recent World Match Race Championships in Croatia.

Coutts, anchored by his trusted crew of Brad Butterworth, Simon Daubney and Warwick Fleury, did what only the master can, perform a miracle, `slam dunking' his taller foe with a blazing second lap that allowed him to extinguish the 270 degree penalty turn, yet still finish ahead.

Series 2-1. Advantage Gilmour; Coutts charging.

Match four witnessed Coutts stay out of trouble, having incurred two penalties and a premature start call in the opening three, and control the race to draw even at 2-2.

It was an organisers' and sponsors' dream, the all deciding fifth race featuring the defending champion and the man seeking a sweep and another addition to the legacy.

Still, what was supposed to be the climax ended in a whimper, with Gilmour's zealous tendencies contrasted with the cool under pressure composure of Coutts, combining for a runaway victory for Team New Zealand.

It appeared a destiny for the Kiwi, who clinched an unprecedented five consecutive triumphs in the Brut Series.

A modest, yet glowing, Coutts said afterwards: "When we were two-nil down I thought, this was going to be really tough. At the start of the day I thought it was going to be a tough match anyway and to give a two-nil head start is equally tough, but the advantage turned and we were able to win three straight, which is pretty pleasing to do.

"I think once we got to two all I would have given the advantage to us, if I had to bet, but at two nil down I wouldn't have.'' Not only did Coutts add to his record, his bank account also blossomed as he pushed his one-year record earnings over the $400,000 mark -- excluding sponsorship deals -- in collecting a cool $30,000 first place prize and a $25,000 cheque for topping the Brut bonus pool.

He had already collected a $250,000 grand prize bonus for winning three of the Brut Series regattas, taking the previous four, the Brut Cups of; France, San Francisco, New York and Royal Lymington.

Meanwhile, Gilmour was gracious in defeat, although very much aware that he had let one slip out of the bag.

He had his man exactly where he wanted, but could not close the door. And he pointed to the third match as the key.

"I think Russell really just kept himself in the game and sailed well, did a good job of keeping things alive, but we really didn't have any answers for him once he won the third race,'' said Gilmour, accompanied by his Japanese crew of Kazuhiko Sufuku, Tatsuya Wakinaga and Yasuhiro Yuji.

"They put a bit of pressure on us by equalising it and then sailed perhaps the best I've ever seen them as a team.'' The world number three ranked sailor won $18,000 for his efforts.

Collecting third place moments earlier and $11,500 was Chris Law of England, as he defeated Germany's Markus Wieser 2-1 in the petit final. Wieser, who suffered a broken boom and was disqualified from the deciding third match, collected $8,500.

EARLY LEADER -- Australia's Peter Gilmour (boat number one) had the edge during the above pictured first match yesterday. But Coutts (number two) would have the last laugh.