Team Origin are busy testing their Extreme 40 Catamaran on the Solent, prior to challenging BMW Oracle and Alinghi, among others, in the iShares Cup programme.

Team Origin’s entry will be skippered by Robert Greenhalgh, the strategist/traveller on the America’s Cup team, who last year skippered Team Basilica, the 2007 iShares Cup X40 Champion.

Other team members include Robert’s brother, Peter Greenhalgh (GBR) as mainsheet trimmer/tactician, Julian Cressant (FRA) as trimmer, Matt Cornwell (GBR) as bowman and Mike Heffer (NZL) as shore support.

The X40 catamaran now carries Team Origin colours and has just started training in the UK in preparation for competing at the first iShares Cup event in Lugano, Switzerland from 30 May – 1 June.

Although Team Origin helmsman Ben Ainslie is currently focused on the Finn class at the Olympic Games, he will be competing in three of the World Match Race Circuit events this year: the Swedish Match Cup in Marstrand (30 June – 6 July); the Bermuda Gold Cup in Hamilton (7 October – 12 October) and the Monsoon Cup in Malaysia (9 December – 14 December).

Ben’s team for the first event will include Kelvin Harrap (NZL) alongside Team Origin members Matt Cornwell (GBR), Christian Kamp (DEN) and Anthony Nossiter (AUS).

For more information, visit www.teamorigin.com .