Brad Butterworth and his bodyguard

Fairfax Media

Security expert Wayne Tempero (with arms crossed) is never far from Brad Butterworth (top).

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Six years after the Alinghi team received death threats targeting its Team NZ defectors and their families, skipper Brad Butterworth is still shadowed in his home town by a bodyguard.

While for most people the bad old days of the 2003 BlackHeart campaign are a distant memory, Butterworth and Alinghi are taking no chances, ensuring there is a constant but casual security presence around the team.

Butterworth, in Auckland with Alinghi for the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series being raced on the Waitemata Harbour, is constantly tailed by minder-to-the-stars Wayne Tempero, a bald, stocky, heavily tattooed personal security expert who has looked after the royal family of Brunei and footballer David Beckham.

Tempero has been involved with Alinghi since 2002, when he was appointed head of security for Swiss billionaire Ernesto Bertarelli and his family, as well as the entire syndicate. Tempero, a New Zealander based here and in the US, has also devised his own system of self defence, known as Stamp.

Last week he and his staff were never far from Butterworth's side, accompanying him to a pre-regatta cocktail party, chatting to him on the wharf at the Viaduct Harbour prior to racing, following him down to the racing yachts and going out on the water on a tender boat.

It is understood the heaviest security is planned for Bertarelli himself, reportedly arriving in Auckland this weekend.

Asked if there had been any specific threat to Butterworth or Alinghi, Tempero said: "This is the friendly games, mate, and everybody is really friendly, so we're fine. I can't make any other comment."

A spokeswoman for Alinghi said the level of security was the same as it always was. "We've had a fantastic reception, no worries whatsoever."

A source familiar with security around the event said the security around Butterworth and Alinghi was in contrast to Team NZ's Dean Barker, who did not have a personal security detail. There was "nothing obvious" in the way of security around Russell Coutts, whose defection along with Butterworth and others sparked the vitriol that led to the 2003 threats. Coutts is now with the Oracle syndicate, which is also racing in the regatta.

Team NZ spokesman Warren Douglas said Team NZ was taking a "low-key" approach to security. "We've got one security guard during the day and one at night down here keeping an eye on the building and equipment."

Asked if Team NZ had considered a bodyguard for Barker, he laughed and said: "Not a chance."

The source said the security situation around the America's Cup had changed significantly since 2003. "Back then, Russell Coutts had ex-SAS guys in the bushes at his house."

The source said different personalities had different threat assessment levels, with the heaviest security around the likes of Bertarelli and Oracle backer Larry Ellison.

"Insurance companies almost insist on [personal security] those guys are worth so much."

Six years ago, police were called in when two letters were sent to Alinghi threatening violence to the families of Alinghi's New Zealand sailors.

The letters were from a group calling itself Teach the Traitors a Lesson and police inquiries included interviewing members of the controversial BlackHeart supporters campaign, which was defunct a short time later.

The authors of the threats were never found. 

- © Fairfax NZ News