Gavin Brady is the new helmsman for the ORACLE BMW Racing Team, announced today in Auckland by CEO Chris Dickson. The 29 year-old New Zealander has agreed to join the team for the 2007 America’s Cup Challenge. For the first time in 156 years, the regatta will be held in Europe with the Swiss Cup holders Alinghi, due to announce details of the venue by 15 December.

“We are delighted to have recruited Gavin for our team. I believe he is the best young helmsmen in the match racing world, ” said Chris Dickson.

“After competing in the final of the 2003 Louis Vuitton Cup in Auckland against Alinghi, we are now planning our campaign for 2007. Gavin is the right man for this task and our team; he’s young, determined and exceptionally talented.”

Brady sailed with Dickson as tactician in the Louis Vuitton Cup semi-finals in San Diego in the 1995 America’s Cup.

“I am very excited about being able to take part in the next America’s Cup with the ORACLE BMW Racing Team. We have ambitious goals, but with Chris Dickson and the support of Larry Ellison and BMW, I am sure we can mount a powerful challenge.” said Gavin Brady at the announcement. “Now my goal is to concentrate on improving my helming and match-racing skills so that I can be at the top of my game for the next America’s Cup. I’m really looking forward to working and sailing with Chris again, he’s a world class sailor and is committed to helping me to improve.”

Gavin Brady’s first major task for the ORACLE BMW Racing Team will be on board USA-71 from June16 – 22 at the IACC Regatta in San Francisco. Brady is assisting in organising the sailing crew and training for this regatta where he will share the helming duties with the team’s Chairman, Larry Ellison. Chris Dickson will sail as tactician. Despite his tender years Gavin Brady is an experienced America’s Cup Class sailor. After sailing with Chris Dickson in the TAG Heuer Challenge in 1995, he was in the AmericaOne afterguard in the 2000 challenge. For America’s Cup 2003 he was helmsman and a member of the afterguard for the Italian Prada Challenge.

Gavin Brady has also demonstrated his sailing skills many times in other competitions. In April this year he came second at the Congressional Cup in the United States, an event he previously won in 1996 and 1997. In 1997/98 he sailed in the Whitbread Round the World Race on board Chessie Racing.

He has won world championships twice in the Mumm 36 class as well as world titles in IMS, 50-footers and the 2002 One Ton Cup. He represented New Zealand at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games in the Star class, and is campaigning for the Athens 2004 Olympics in the same class.