BMW Oracle Racing has recruited two new sailors, completing the sailing team for the 2006 America’s Cup season. Former Alinghi team member Jann Neergaard of Denmark joins as mast/grinder and Guillermo Parada of Argentina joins the afterguard.

Chris Dickson -CEO and skipper commented: “The addition of Jann and Guillermo completes our sailing team for 2006. We have an intense sailing programme planned for this year. With three important Louis Vuitton Acts and many months of training and testing with two America’s Cup Class boats, we need enough depth to field two complete race crews. We have achieved a great balance of experience and younger talent who are all team players and motivated to win.”

Neergaard, 42, a 2003 America’s Cup winner with Alinghi, has recently been found competing on the grand prix match racing and TP52 circuit with three-time America’s Cup winning helmsman Russell Coutts. Neergaard has secured titles in a variety of classes during his career, many of them together with the Danish match racer Sten Mohr who also recently joined the BMW Oracle Racing afterguard.

Parada, 38, the only sailor representing Argentina on the team has been running the Maxi boat Alexia for the past 11 years. Parada’s long list of sailing achievements includes wins at various offshore races and many international Maxi titles.

The sailing team returns to Valencia in February to prepare for two-boat training and testing this spring in Valencia prior to the start of competition in the three America’s Cup Class pre-Regattas, Louis Vuitton Acts 10, 11 and 12. The first regatta starts May 11 in Valencia.