SailJuice Blog

BMW Oracle Racing piled on the pressure this morning with the announcement of the team members for its assault on the 33rd America’s Cup. One gets the sense that Russell Coutts and the American team are good deal more prepared for a match in late 2008 than are Alinghi, who yesterday said they looked forward to a July 2009 match.

As ever, it’s hard seeing through the smoke and mirrors of the Cup world, but the man who consistently does a great job of cutting through the crap is Cory Friedman, whose razor-sharp analyses are published in Scuttlebutt.

Here’s an excerpt from Cory’s latest piece:

“Now the real news. After Justice Cahn’s decision was handed down, Ernesto Bertarelli called. He confirmed that SNG will not appeal, he wants to decide the Cup on the water, rather than in court, and that the next match will be a Deed of Gift Match in multi-hulls. When questioned about the date for the Dead of Gift Match, he said that SNG would not be ready to race in October 2008 if that turns out to be the date. He further confirmed that, if pressed to race in October 2008, SNG will forfeit.

“I called GGYC to ask for their comment and spoke to Tom Ehman. His position is that GGYC, as challenger, has the right under the Deed to choose the Match date and, if SNG does not want to accept October 2008, SNG has to take the initiative to get it changed. He expressed great respect for Team Alinghi’s abilities, expects them to be ready to race at the highest level whenever the Match is scheduled, and does not believe they will forfeit.”

Emirates Team New Zealand boss Grant Dalton offered this interpretation:

“Alinghi has issued a statement saying they welcomed an event in July 2009. This is a smokescreen because we assume that Alinghi will not be ready in July 2008. It is in Alinghi’s interests to try to push the event into 2009.

“We assume that BMW Oracle has factored a July 2008 date into their build programme so it is in their interests to race as soon as possible.”

Below are the details of BMW Oracle’s team announcement. As you would expect, some major players in there – including John Kostecki who went into Oracle exile under the Dickson regime. But not many multihull specialists that I can see. Of course Russell himself has spent some time in the Decision 35 fleet, and doubtless the Extreme 40 circuit will help get these sailors quickly up to speed. But what about some of the Tornado talent that’s going to be kicking its heels after August this year?

Here’s what the Americans had to say:

BMW ORACLE Racing today announced its core sailing team for the 33rd America’s Cup. The team also confirmed the start of a comprehensive 2008 training and racing program that includes both monohulls and multihulls.

Joining skipper Russell Coutts in the accomplished afterguard are American John Kostecki and Australian James Spithill. Among the crew roster are nine sailors returning from BMW ORACLE Racing and 11 from Luna Rossa’s 2007 Italian challenge.

“We have assembled a fantastic team who are not only experienced and talented but who have winning attitudes and are great fun to race with,” said CEO and Skipper Russell Coutts.

“I have sailed with most of these guys on different projects over the years, and am really pleased to have had the opportunity to bring them together into one America’s Cup team. We are looking forward to getting out and doing some racing.”

Spithill will share helming duties with Coutts, and Kostecki has been named tactician. In addition to Spithill, there are 10 other recruits from the 2007 Luna Rossa challenge. Jonathan Macbeth joins from 2007 Louis Vuitton Cup winner Emirates Team New Zealand. Among the crew are Hamish Pepper, strategist, and Carl Williams, grinder, the 2006 Star World champions representing New Zealand in the 2008 Olympics in the Star class.

The team’s on-the-water training program began last week in Valencia with sailing in two Extreme 40 catamarans. This summer the team will compete in the Extreme 40 European tour. Team members will also be competing in the TP 52 Med Cup Series, a European grand prix sailing tour in monohulls, Additional details about the 2008 program will be announced soon.

The BMW ORACLE Racing core sailing team for the 33rd America’s Cup includes (in alphabetical order name, country and position): Alberto Barovier, Italy, foredeck; Russell Coutts, New Zealand, skipper; Simone de Mari, Italy, pit; Dirk de Ridder, The Netherlands, mainsail trimmer; Noel Drennan, Ireland; mainsail trimmer; Larry Ellison, USA, afterguard; Shannon Falcone, United Kingdom, mast; Daniel Fong, New Zealand, trimmer; Ross Halcrow, New Zealand, trimmer; Jared Henderson, New Zealand, pit; John Kostecki, USA, tactician; Michele Ivaldi, Italy, navigator; Jonathan Macbeth, New Zealand, grinder; Brian MacInnes, Canada, grinder; Gilberto Nobili, Italy, grinder; Joe Newton, Australia, trimmer; Hamish Pepper, New Zealand, strategist; Matteo Plazzi, Italy, navigator; Max Sirena, Italy, foredeck; Alan Smith, New Zealand, foredeck; James Spithill, Australia, helmsman; Joe Spooner, New Zealand, grinder; Andrew Taylor, New Zealand, grinder; Simeon Tienpont, The Netherlands, grinder; Brad Webb, New Zealand, foredeck; Carl Williams, New Zealand, grinder. Julien di Biase, Switzerland, is sailing team coordinator.