Dickson still at helm say Oracle Racing

Oracle Racing have lost their operations manager for the next America's Cup yachting regatta, but skipper Chris Dickson remains with the United States team.

Bob Billingham, who was with Paul Cayard's AmericaOne syndicate for the last regatta, had left "to pursue other activities," said syndicate spokeswoman Gina von Esmarch. Some shore crew had also left the syndicate.

The departures were confirmed as speculation spread that New Zealand-born Dickson had left Oracle. But von Esmarch said Dickson was definitely still with the syndicate.

Oracle Racing, owned by software billionaire Larry Ellison, have yet to formally challenge for the America's Cup.

Von Esmarch said Oracle expected to announce soon an alliance with a yacht club which would clear the way for them to pay a $US300,000 ($740,000) late entry fee to challenge.

Ellison last year bought the assets of AmericaOne, headed by Cayard. The team are training in California, with Cayard as campaign manager.

AmericaOne lost to Prada in the challenger's final of the last regatta, eventually won by Team New Zealand. The next challenger's series is due to begin late next year and the cup contest will be sailed in 2003. Nine syndicates have lodged challenges.

- NZPA

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