John Kostecki’s departure from the BMW Oracle afterguard has led to changes at the back of the boat for Louis Vuitton Acts 6 and 7 in Malmo, Sweden which begin tomorrow (Thursday).

Chris Dickson has been appointed as skipper and will be joined by Larry Ellison, Gavin Brady, Eric Doyle and Ian Burns. Brady will be tactician, Doyle the strategist, and Burns is temporarily in the navigator’s slot. American Peter Isler returns as navigator for the final Acts of the season in Trapani, Italy.

Commenting on the situation as they enter the penultimate Acts Dickson said: “On the design side, we completed five months of two-boat testing last month and now we are in an important phase of our design programme.

“On the sailing side, we have had some changes to the race crew while maintaining an intense competition schedule with three different teams out match racing in the week leading up to Malmö. The team is looking forward to the America’s Cup racing in Sweden and taking on this competitive fleet in Malmö.

“The changes are all with an eye on the long-term goal of winning the America’s Cup in 2007. We are determined to improve our performance. Change can be positive and invigorating. The guys have been working hard and we are building a winning team spirit. We will be giving it our best shot to be on top of the leaderboard for Louis Vuitton Acts 6 and 7. With four Acts to go in 2005, we still have the opportunity to finish the season where we want to be.”

Racing in the Malmö-Skåne Louis Vuitton Acts begins tomorrow (25 August) with the match races of Act 6, followed by a three day fleet racing series (Act 7) starting on the 2 September. The 2005 racing season for the 32nd America’s Cup concludes in Trapani, Sicily at the end of September.

BMW ORACLE Racing sailing team in Malmö (Crew member/Nationality/Team
Number)

Ian Baker, NZL, 19; David Blanchfield, AUS, 70; Mark Bradford, AUS, 21;
Gavin Brady, NZL, 5; David Brooke, NZL, 10; Ian Burns, AUS, 42; Sean
Clarkson, NZL, 9; Julien Cressant, FRA, 3; Rodney Daniel, AUS, 72; Chris
Dickson, NZL, 11; Eric Doyle, USA, 14; Larry Ellison, USA, 17; Jamie Gale,
NZL; 12; Ross Halcrow, NZL, 4; Zach Hurst, NZL, 25; Phil Jameson, NZL, 13;
Brian MacInnes, CAN, 44; Craig Monk, NZL, 15; Robbie Naismith, NZL, 38;
Bertrand Pace, FRA, 33; Ed Smyth, NZL, 32; Kazuhiko Sofuku, JPN, 23; Joe
Spooner, NZL, 99; Brad Webb, NZL, 22; Paul Westlake, AUS, 20

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