Oracle team in overdrive for rerun of cup contest

By JULIE ASH

Oracle BMW Racing's chief executive Chris Dickson has his team training six days a week in preparation for their rematch against America's Cup winners Alinghi in San Francisco next week.

Oracle will line up against Russell Coutts' Swiss syndicate in the Moet Cup, a 12-race series from September 15 to 20.

In five of the races, owners Larry Ellison and Ernesto Bertarelli will be at the helms of their yachts.

Dickson said Oracle had their new boats USA71 and USA76 in San Francisco and a team of around 80 people working on the water and on shore.

"We are training and practising solidly in our two boats with a full complement of crew, and we've got new equipment and new sails coming," Dickson said.

"Last time we raced Alinghi [in the America's Cup challenger series final] we lost 5-1, and we would be very disappointed if that happened again."

The regatta will be Oracle's third since the cup. They sailed USA76 to wins in the Sausalito Cup and the Il Moro Trophy.

"The Moet Cup will be a good chance for our sailing crew to build a working relationship together," Dickson said.

"The sailing crew is one of the critical parts of the programme, and we have been working towards employing key people, as well as having key people from the previous programme."

In the past few months Dickson has signed New Zealand sailors Gavin Brady, Craig Monk and Ross Halcrow. His biggest signing has been American tactician John Kostecki.

"Oracle isn't just about sailors. We are evolving as a team - we've now got strong management and administration and the key people in our design area and shore team," he said.

It is not known whether Dickson has re-signed New Zealand-born designer Bruce Farr.

"I expect we will be a smaller team this time around. We envisage about 50 to 80 for most of the time, and we will increase it for short periods only."

Dickson said no decision had been made on whether the syndicate would remain based in Auckland.

"At the moment we have an administrative base in Auckland and an operational base in San Francisco," he said.

"We don't know the venue of the next cup yet, we don't have dates, we don't have a class rule finalised, we don't have the rules of the regatta.

"Without that information we are not in a position to make a decision on what is best for this team."

Further reading: nzherald.co.nz/americascup