Coutts was back on familiar turf at the Ravensbourne Yatch Club to put 10 aspiring sailors through their paces.
The youngsters took to the water in their O'pen BIC crafts with Coutts looking on from the rather modest seat of his motorised support craft.
That scene was a world away from the famous pictures of Coutts at the helm during one of his three America's Cup triumphs.
But there is good reason for that as Coutts distances himself from the Auld Mug.
The sailor confirmed last week he had little interest in being involved in the next Cup campaign - whether it be on the challenger's or the holder's side of the water.
So instead of questions of monohulls or multihulls, venues or a even a make-up group hug with Team New Zealand, developing the country's sailing talent is Coutts' immediate priority.
''I enjoy it,'' he said.
''I guess a lot of teachers get the same type of feelings. You see them progress and you see the results.''
Coutts' main mission is to give his group of Otago-based youngsters the best possible grounding in sailing techniques so they have the platform to develop with more age and experience.
''At this early stage it is hard to judge talent really because they are so young.
''I am actually not a big believer in trying to assess kids in terms of whether they will be any good or not. It is a matter of figuring out how to teach them progress.
''They are all different ages and different maturities and different sizes and different weights so, hopefully, as they get older they discover [a sailing class] that they like.''
Coutts has developed a strong bond with the local group and sees them progress with each visit he makes to the club where he learned the ropes decades ago.
''I have been part of this club for a long time, so I come down and give these kids instruction regularly.
''They are all into it. They are a good keen bunch of kids and each time we will work on different things and they progress.''
One major training advantage is the good conditions for teaching Otago Harbour offers.
''There are pretty safe conditions out here. They can go out in stronger winds and they're not going to be much harm come to them, so long as they've got the good safety gear on, and they can develop fast.''
The training programmes are overseen by the Ravensbourne Youth Yachting Trust and run in conjunction with the Ravensbourne Yatch Club, with additional support from the Otago Yatch Club.
Coutts' involvement in the programme was entirely done off his own back, club officials said.
Such was his commitment to developing young sailors he took three Otago sailors to Lake Garda in Italy for last year's O'pen Bic world championships.
With Coutts' guidance and next year's championships in Auckland, there is every chance more could compete next time.
