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 are American John Kostecki and Australian James Spithill. Among the crew roster are nine sailors returning from BMW ORACLE Racing, 11 from Luna Rossa's 2007 Italian challenge, and Jonathan Macbeth joins from Emirates Team New Zealand.
Spithill will share helming duties with Coutts, and Kostecki has been named tactician. Among the crew are Hamish Pepper, strategist, and Carl Williams, grinder - the 2006 Star World champions representing New Zealand in the 2008 Olympics 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.
BMW Oracle Racing Team for the 33rd America's Cup:
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, sailing team coordinator.
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. 
