Helming decision left to Oracle's oracle

By JULIE ASH

Will Larry Ellison drive the boat? That's a question Oracle Racing have probably been asked a thousand times.

As the billionaire backer of the Californian syndicate, it is understood Ellison has expressed an interest in helming the boat - but just when he plans to take the wheel is anyone's guess.

"I can't speak for Larry, he is a powerful, smart man," said Oracle's regular helmsman and Swedish match tour champion Peter Holmberg.

"I believe he intends to race the boat, but I don't think he has made any firm commitments to anybody as to what he will do on board."

Ellison was a "recognised yachtsman" whose maxi yacht Sayonara had won several world titles.

"He has trained with us a number of times and has done a great job," Holmberg said.

Ellison could be the team's 17th man, but in that position he is just an observer and cannot contribute to the running of the boat.

"He will be on board," Holmberg said. "I think if he feels his skills meet the need he will drive the boat."

When asked how things are going at Oracle BMW Racing a month out from the Louis Vuitton Challenger series, Holmberg replies: "Absolutely fantastically."

Since the arrival of their new boats, USA71 and USA76, Oracle have raced just one of the other challengers - Russell Coutts' Swiss syndicate Alinghi.

So how do you approach training against another challenger?

"We go into it fully loaded and test ourselves and see where we are.

"It's a win-win deal. Sure, they might learn from us, but as long as we learn we are happy."

The big budget campaigns - Oracle, Prada, OneWorld and Alinghi - are the favourites going into the challenger series.

However, Holmberg believes it will be tough for the likes of Oracle and those syndicates entering the cup for the first time.

"When you add it up - time spent, testing, number of masts built, sailing team, designers, rankings - on paper we look strong.

"But any smart designer from another team could have come up with a better solution, so bigger is not always better. We don't underestimate anyone."

Growing up in the Virgin Islands, sailing was a natural pastime for Holmberg.

"My parents bought a sail boat when I was four and my brother was five, and we started sailing. I started competing against my brother and then the neighbour.

"My parents formed a yacht club with some friends and it just grew from there."

Holmberg's parents, Louise Johnson and Dick Holmberg, were good sailors. His mother won the Sunfish world championships and his father competed in the 1972 Olympics in Solings. His brother John also represented the Virgin Islands in sailing.

"I guess it is in the genes," he said.

After a successful career in match racing and a silver medal in the Finn class at the 1988 Olympics, Holmberg stumbled into America's Cup racing by "accident."

"It was not my goal. I was really into match racing and just by chance my ranking went high and things started falling into place. A friend of mine thought it would be a great idea for the Virgin Islands to put in a challenge.

"We got about a quarter of the way and then we couldn't meet some budget deadlines we set for ourselves. We merged with Dennis Conner in 1999.

"Dennis is the master of the game. I have a lot of respect for him and those people around him. He taught me to do things smartly. The America's Cup is a very tough game."

Holmberg was offered a job with Team Dennis Conner for this cup regatta. But he opted to join Oracle, even though at that time they had the services of experienced helmsmen Chris Dickson and Paul Cayard - who were later removed from the sailing team and placed in administration roles.

"For me, my forte is driving [but] with Dennis that was a closed door. With Oracle I was offered a position to come in and be the sparring helmsman against the guys that were already there.

"I could keep doing the match racing, and it just had more of what I liked to do, so I chose Oracle."

Holmberg said winning the cup would be the "most fantastic thing," but for now the focus was on the challenger series.

"The uncertainty makes you anxious. One of these teams alongside us could have a rocket ship. It could be a tough, long series.

"But you fall back on the fact that you have done all you can and you can just keep doing the best you can."

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