Yachting: Disaffected Kiwis were spur for Ellison

By SUZANNE McFADDEN

The world's second-richest man was moved to enter the America's Cup by the discontent of a bunch of Team New Zealand sailors.

Larry Ellison, a software mogul worth $US47 billion, is coming to Auckland with a team heavy in Kiwis for his first crack at yachting's holy grail.

Apparently Ellison had no interest in competing for the Cup until three months ago. Sailing on his world champion maxi Sayonara with his regular crew, including Team NZ sailors, he was hit by a bombshell.

"Some of the guys told him they were considering leaving Team New Zealand," said Sayonara sailing boss Bill Erkelens. "That really shocked and surprised him - he had no idea that they would want to leave. So he decided it was time to jump into the game."

Without seriously headhunting the New Zealanders, Ellison hired three Team NZ crew - trimmer Robbie Naismith, sail designer Mickey Ickert and boatbuilder Mark Turner.

He also enticed some of the great brains of Kiwi yachting - skipper Chris Dickson, tactician John Cutler, who helmed America True last time, and round-the-world veteran Mike Sanderson. And there were more Kiwis to come, like designers Bruce Farr and Russell Bowler.

There was little talk yesterday about any Americans who have signed up, other than AmericaOne skipper and head Paul Cayard.

Cayard, part of the deal when Ellison bought AmericaOne's assets, said yesterday that he would be general manager of the syndicate, to be known as Oracle Racing. He will have a role on board the race boat, but he does not know what it will be.

"Chris Dickson has a long relationship with Mr Ellison, so he's the incumbent skipper," said Cayard. "I will just have to wait and see what my role is. But in two and a half years anything is possible."

Oracle Racing, bearing the name of Ellison's giant software company, will be here in October to start testing with the old AmericaOne boats.

They also bought the assets of the Hawaiian Abracadabra syndicate in case the AmericaOne deal did not work out, but it is unlikely that his team will ever sail those boats, famous only for their marine-life paint job.

Oracle Racing, likely to fly the burgee of the St Francis Yacht Club in San Francisco, would not put a figure on their budget. But it is thought to be around $US80 million - in the ballpark of other billionaire-backed syndicates.

Ellison, whose Oracle shares rocketed 500 per cent last year, could finance the entire operation himself, but he is inviting large American companies to contribute.

The 55-year-old does not have a notable sailing background, other than his six years on his beloved Sayonara. But his new team are assured he is totally committed to the Cup campaign.

"He likes the process of designing boats and sails - all that stuff is interesting to him on a hobby level," Erkelens said.

"Being able to relax with a group of people outside of work seems to be a major draw."

He even wants to sail in the America's Cup, as 17th man in his crew, if the rules will allow it.

America's Cup feature