Farr Yacht Design will continue with Oracle (10/24/03)
 (source : Yahoo!)

Farr Yacht Design has confirmed its commitment to Oracle BMW Racing for the 2007 America's Cup, and will once again play an integral role in the design team.

The Farr Yacht Design team will continue to build on its strong relationship with Oracle BMW Racing, forged in their successful affiliation in the 2003 America's Cup.

Larry Ellison's Team CEO Chris Dickson says he and the team are looking forward to working with the Farr Yacht Design team once again, recognized as one of the best and most experienced groups of boat designers in the world.

"Larry Ellison, Oracle BMW Racing and I have had a long term great relationship with Farr Yacht Design and we are delighted that this will continue", Dickson stated. "Farr Yacht Design did a fantastic job for us last time with our America's Cup yachts USA 71 and USA 76, and we are all keen to continue to develop them to their fullest potential as we head towards the next America's Cup in 2007."

The US-based Farr Yacht Design team is carrying on its long involvement in the America's Cup. Bruce Farr, Russell Bowler, Steve Morris, Britton Ward and the rest of the Farr Yacht Design team will be drawing upon many years of Cup experience to contribute as part of a larger Oracle BMW Racing team design group.

"We are proud of our efforts last time and the Oracle BMW Racing team will work hard at forging new frontiers in America's Cup design," said Steve Morris, Vice President of Farr Yacht Design. "We are looking forward to a strong campaign."

In 2003, USA 71 and USA 76 were acknowledged as being among the fastest boats in the Louis Vuitton Cup. Oracle BMW Racing raced in the final of the Louis Vuitton Cup against eventual America's Cup winners Alinghi, and recently defeated Alinghi in the Moet Cup in San Francisco.

The continued working relationship between Oracle BMW Racing and Farr Yacht Design will be a major asset to the Larry Ellison's Team.

"Success in the America's Cup is dependant on continuous improvement," Dickson said. "It is imperative that we build on our knowledge and foundations from 2003 to lift to another level".

"We have a talented group of experienced sailors and designers to draw on and Farr Yacht Design is an example of this talent", Dickson added. "They add considerable strength to the Oracle BMW Racing design team."
 

 Forbes Richest List: Larry Ellison is ninth (09/19/03)
 (source : Forbes.com)

Microsoft Corp co-founder Bill Gates, worth $US46 billion ($A69 billion), topped a list of the 400 richest people in the United States, published by Forbes magazine.

It was the 10th year in a row in which Gates, the 47-year-old chairman of Microsoft, topped the rankings of the richest people in the United States, compiled by the business magazine. His fortune increased by $US3 billion over the past year, according to Forbes.

Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen - who have made his America's Cup bid with cellphone entrepreneur Craig McCaw (95th) - held third place, with his net worth rising $1 billion to $22 billion.

In ninth position was Oracle Corp chairman Lawrence Ellison, 59, with a fortune of $US18 billion. Ellison's fortune slightly from last year : peak was $58B in 2000.
 

 Larry Ellison wants to bring the Cup to SF (09/13/03)
 (source : SFGate.com)

Bobbing in his sloop on San Francisco Bay under a cloudless sky, Silicon Valley maverick Larry Ellison looked around and imagined what it would be like if he ever won the America's Cup and brought sailing's biggest regatta to this picturesque city.

The software billionaire had just finished piloting his 80-foot boat up and down the bayfront in a practice race against the defending America's Cup champion, Alinghi of Switzerland. The backdrop included landmarks like Coit Tower, Transamerica Pyramid, Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge.

"I think it's the most beautiful place in the world to sail," Ellison said Friday. "Just a natural amphitheater for sailing. Certainly in the United States, this is the best place for America's Cup racing."

Ellison, chairman and CEO of Oracle Corp., won't get a chance to try to win the America's Cup until 2007, when the next regatta is held in a southern European port that's still to be determined.

Hurt by crew upheavals and mistakes, Oracle BMW Racing lost 5-1 to Alinghi in the Louis Vuitton Cup in January. Ellison almost totally revamped the crew, which is led by fiery New Zealander Chris Dickson.

"We have an incomparably better crew than we had in New Zealand," said Ellison, who steers the boat part of the time. "Basically we built a team around Chris Dickson, which is something we didn't do in New Zealand, and we paid for it."

Ellison's Oracle BMW Racing faces Alinghi on Monday, in a weeklong match called the Moët Cup.

"Of course, they're not putting the America's Cup on the line, but still, they're putting all the bragging rights of being the top team in the world on the line," Ellison said.
 

 Ross Halcrow joins Oracle BMW Racing (09/10/03)
 (source : Oracle BMW Racing)

With the addition America's Cup winner Ross Halcrow, team Oracle BMW Racing's sailing crew now has even more experienced winners in its ranks. He is considered one of the world's best sail trimmers and was part of the Team New Zealand crew which made history in winning the America's Cup in San Diego in 1995.

The 36-year old Halcrow, born in New Zealand and residing in Canada, furthered his sailing reputation when he was part of the illbruck Challenge crew which won the 2002-03 Volvo Ocean Race.

Oracle BMW Racing CEO Chris Dickson says the addition of Halcrow to the sailing crew strengthens the team on and off the water. "Ross Halcrow is one of the world's best trimmers and brings a lot of expertise to that area of the race boat. He will also play an important role in our sail program," he said.

Like his friend Kostecki, Ross Halcrow says joining Oracle BMW Racing is a great opportunity to work with a team with the potential to win the 2007 America's Cup.

"That's the bottom line. I didn't want to join a team for the sake of joining a team - I want to win the America's Cup again," he said. "I believe Oracle BMW Racing has the assets and a good structure and I'm looking forward to being involved with the strategic planning for the team."

Halcrow has been involved in the America's Cup for 16 years, beginning as a sailmaker for the original New Zealand Challenge with Chris Dickson in 1987. He then sailed for New Zealand in 1992, Team New Zealand in 1995, and Young America in 2000. He has sailed in three round-the-world races and has five world titles to his name, including the world matchracing championship. He has also been part of a victorious Admiral's Cup team.

But he can't wait to be part of an America's Cup syndicate again.

"I love sailing these America's Cup boats and being involved with the sail design", Halcrow said. "Today, that means being involved with the whole process - sails, the rig, the balance of the boat and boat design".

As trimmer and sail program manager on board illbruck, Halcrow worked closely with skipper John Kostecki, who has also recently joined the Oracle BMW Racing team as tactician.

"Both Ross and John are world-class sailors in their respective roles and I have a lot of respect for them", Dickson says. "They work separately but over the years they have forged a strong understanding between them".

Halcrow says he is looking forward to sailing with Dickson for the first time and continuing his sailing relationship with Kostecki at Oracle BMW Racing.

"We decided that we would sail in the next America's Cup together because we enjoy working together and off-set each other pretty well," Halcrow added.

Halcrow will sail on board ORACLE BMW Racing in the Moët Cup, the rematch of the 2003 Louis Vuitton Cup final against Alinghi in San Francisco later this September.
 

 Kostecki with Oracle, it's official (08/20/03)
 (source : Oracle BMW Racing)

The Oracle BMW Racing team has received yet another boost to its brain trust with the addition of John Kostecki to the sailing crew for the 2007 America's Cup.

Kostecki, a highly regarded international sailor in both ocean racing and America's Cup arenas, has joined Oracle BMW Racing's afterguard, alongside skipper Chris Dickson and helmsman Gavin Brady.

The 39-year-old San Francisco-based yachtsman was skipper of the victorious illbruck Challenge in the 2001-02 Volvo Ocean Race and has won 10 world sailing championship titles and a silver medal in the Soling at the 1988 Olympics. His America's Cup experience includes two campaigns with American syndicates - Young America in 1995 and tactician of AmericaOne in 2000.

Signing up a sailor of Kostecki's caliber is a coup for any America's Cup syndicate and Chris Dickson says Kostecki will play a significant role in ORACLE BMW Racing's strategy to win the next Cup regatta.

"John Kostecki has an excellent tactical mind. He's one of the best tacticians in the world and we'll benefit greatly from his experience," Dickson says.

"Oracle BMW Racing is assembling a group of strong individuals who will work together as a team, pooling our intellect and sailing ability to get the ultimate result." Added Oracle sailing manager Russell Green, "John's tactical expertise adds considerable depth to our afterguard. With his knowledge and experience he will make a major contribution to the operations of the campaign on and off the water."

Kostecki says joining Oracle BMW Racing offers a "tremendous" opportunity to sail with some of the world's best sailors.

"I've joined Oracle BMW Racing because it is an excellent team - with a good chance of winning the America's Cup," Kostecki says.

"One of the goals in my sailing career has always been to win the America's Cup. Being part of this team offers me the chance to strengthen my skills, working within a team of people who have amassed a huge amount of experience, talent and know-how in sailing, management and business. This team holds so much promise of success."

Kostecki sailed with Oracle BMW Racing on board USA76 as the team won the Il Moro Trophy in San Francisco in July.

"It was great sailing alongside guys like Chris Dickson, Gavin Brady and Larry Ellison in an America's Cup boat," Kostecki says. "We also got some good sailing time together in the Farr 40s. It was great just to be out there sailing, already working towards the next America's Cup."

Kostecki is looking forward to sailing in the Oracle BMW Racing crew against Alinghi in the Moet Cup on San Francisco Bay, September 15-20 - a rematch of the 2003 Louis Vuitton Cup final.
 

 Team NZ lose out in bid for Kostecki (08/09/03)
 (source : NZ Herald)

Team New Zealand managing director Grant Dalton said yesterday that he understood veteran American sailor John Kostecki had signed with Chris Dickson's Oracle BMW Racing.

"It is unfortunate from our point of view, but it is not the end of the world," Dalton said. "He would have been a good one to have, but there are other people and we are already pursuing other options."

Kostecki would be have been a tremendous asset to Team New Zealand, particularly in the back of the boat.

"I don't know what it came down to, but you would have to imagine money was part of it" said Dalton, ". "However, it might have come to the fact he is from San Francisco and so is Oracle."

Dalton said he assumed New Zealander Ross Halcrow would follow his long-time friend Kostecki to Oracle.

Team New Zealand now had 37 people signed (in the areas of sailing, design, sails, rigs and administration) but Dalton said it was too early to comment on any of the signings.
 

 Team NZ set to miss out on John Kostecki (07/31/03)
 (source : Sports Illustrated)

Team New Zealand boss Grant Dalton said Thursday he is no longer confident of signing American yachtsman John Kostecki to a key role in a 2007 America's Cup campaign.

Dalton held contract talks in New Zealand and the United States with Kostecki, whose successes include an Olympic silver medal, victory in the Volvo Round the World Race, a world soling championship and two America's Cup campaigns with American syndicates.

He had been initially hopeful of making Kostecki one of the leading members of New Zealand's sailing team. But Dalton said Thursday he had little hope of topping bids for the American's services from other, big-budget campaigns.

Kostecki is being pursued by Oracle, the San Francisco syndicate of software magnate Larry Ellison, and that Team New Zealand was unlikely to be able to match their offer, Dalton said.

"I'm not confident of finalizing the deal with John," he told the Associated Press from Auckland. "Everyone has options and John has obviously got a few. I'd say it's a 50-50 thing at the moment. Good guys like John are under offer from all over the place and he's probably got a variety of options to consider."