Sir Russell, who was at the Ravensbourne Boating Club at the weekend to coach, told the club he was going to pay for one young sailor and a parent to go to Bermuda for the 35th America's Cup in 2017 to watch the action and compete in a freestyle event.
‘‘They all sat there with their mouths open,'' Sir Russell said, of the children's reaction to his announcement.
Sir Russell said he was not looking for the fastest or best sailor. ‘‘It gives the kids a bit of a goal but I don't want it to be about that,'' he said.
‘‘It's an award for someone that shows the right attitude - who has the right values.''Sir Russell learnt his trade on Otago Harbour and is a life member of the Ravensbourne Boating Club and the trust's patron.
‘‘I didn't start racing until I was 11,'' he said.
‘‘I think there's too much emphasis on whether the kid is good at sport or not - that's secondary.
‘‘It's a great confidence-booster getting out on the water. I think it teaches them quite a lot of life skills.''
Warwick Graham, a trust founder, said the opportunity was a ‘‘huge'' coup for the trust and its junior sailors.
More than 70 people had swarmed the club to hear Sir Russell speak and learn from him. His advice to the children was not to worry about results but to learn and have fun.
The young sailors spent the day hanging on Sir Russell's every word and taking to the water at the helm of four new O'pen Bic sailing dinghies, paid for by Sir Russell.
He also extended an invitation to the junior sailors to visit his property near Queenstown and sail on his pond.
