By JULIE ASH
Top New Zealand sailor Chris Dickson has been dumped from his America's Cup sailing team.
After weeks of speculation, Larry Ellison's Oracle Racing yesterday confirmed that Dickson, a member of their afterguard, would no longer be part of the sailing team.
Dickson had last week off work for the birth of his second daughter but has extended his leave.
Oracle Racing's chief executive operating officer, Bill Erkelens, told the Herald that Dickson would take on new duties within the team, but did not say what they were.
"Chris has been one of the world's leading professional sailors for 25 years and I want to ensure he can contribute his knowledge over a wide range of challenger activities in the months ahead," said Mr Erkelens.
Dickson could not be contacted yesterday but in the statement said: "Although I would prefer to be on the water, I am happy to be assigned to whichever areas the team feel I could make the largest contribution."
Dickson is not the first prominent sailor to be sidelined by Ellison. Paul Cayard, a six-time world champion and five-time America's Cup veteran, was on the management and sailing team but his role was cut to membership of the advisory board.
It is understood that Cayard got offside with Ellison.
Dickson's reassignment is rumoured to have come after friction with team members.
nzherald.co.nz/americascup
Dickson now an Oracle Racing landlubber
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