One World

USA

Syndicate head:

Craig McCaw (US)

Chief Executive:

Gary Wright (Britain)

Executive Director:

Bob Ratliffe (US)

Skipper:

Peter Gilmour (Australia)

Helmsman:

James Spithill (Australia)

OneWorld head into the challenger series with a one-point deficit after the America's Cup arbitration panel ruled they had other syndicates' design secrets.

The deficit could prove costly, but it will more than likely give the team an added incentive to come out firing.

OneWorld is an experienced team with good designers and they are one of the favoured five, along with Alinghi, Prada, Oracle and Team Dennis Conner.

History

Telecommunications billionaire Craig McCaw has followed the America's Cup since his childhood, and helped finance Team New Zealand's 2000 victory. After the last Cup, McCaw sent one of his "lieutenants" to inquire about the level of interest members of Team New Zealand had in joining a new team - one that had a global focus and a mission to use the campaign to draw attention to the health of the planet.

In May 2000, the Seattle Yacht Club and McCaw launched OneWorld Challenge - the first America's Cup challenge from the US west coast city.

Crew

The first person McCaw hired was New Zealand-born designer

Laurie Davidson

.

Soon after that came Peter Gilmour, the Australian who skippered Nippon in the last regatta and who has been involved with Australia II, Kookaburra and Spirit of Australia.

Now the One World team boast 10 Olympic medallists, three round-the-world winners, 60 world championship titles in various classes, and 16 America's Cup winners, including plenty of

New Zealanders

.

The crew includes:

Don Cowie, mainsail trimmer (NZ)

Richard Dodson (ex Team NZ tactician)

David Endean (NZ)

Kevin Harrap, helm (NZ)

Richard Karn (ex Team NZ fluid dynamicist)

Matt Mason (ex Team NZ mastman)

Ian Mitchell (ex Team NZ engineer)

Craig Monk (ex Team NZ grinder)

Jeremy Scantlebury (ex Team NZ pitman)

Kevin Shoebridge, trimmer (NZ)

Alan Smith, bow (NZ)

Wayne Smith (ex Team NZ engineer)

Grant Spanhake, trimmer (NZ)

Andrew Taylor (ex Team NZ grinder)

Peter Waymouth (ex Team NZ pitman)

Neil Wilkinson (ex Team NZ engineer)

Money

No problems here. Thanks to their main backers, McCaw and Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, the team have a budget of around $160 million.

Strengths

With its former Team New Zealand crew members, OneWorld should have plenty of strength. The team were also lucky enough to secure the services of Laurie Davidson - the designer who helped Team New Zealand win the Cup in 1995 and defend it five years later - so one would presume their boats are by no means donkeys.

Prospects

OneWorld will be knocking on the door for a top-four spot. The team impressed at the international America's Cup Class regatta held in Auckland earlier this year and should have the crew and boats to make it to the top four, if not higher.

New boats:

USA-65, launched February 2002 in Auckland

USA-67

, launched March 2002 in Auckland

Designers: Laurie Davidson, Bruce Nelson, Phil Kaiko

Hull colours: Two-tone blue

Trial horses:

USA-51: ex America True from 1999

USA-55: ex Stars & Stripes from 1999

One of the syndicate's trial horses, USA51, was dismasted during training on Auckland's Hauraki Gulf in October 2001.

Club:

Seattle Yacht Club

, Seattle, USA

Team website