From time to time our intrepid, globe-trotting media relations chief, Jane Eagleson (USA), sends out an email newsletter called "Sail Mail." It goes to our team members, partners, families and friends. The Sail Mail often mirrors or consolidates stories running on our main team website or here on the BOB. Sometimes, as in the case of today's Sail Mail, it is particularly newsworthy and well worth posting here for the edification of an even wider audience....


SAIL MAIL -- Wed 22 Nov 06
Thirty-eight team members are now in New Zealand preparing for our crew training session that will start next week with USA 71 on the Hauraki Gulf.

However, the session kicks off this week with two BMW ORACLE Racing teams competing at the New Zealand Match Racing Championships starting tomorrow. Chris Dickson and Gavin Brady are each helming entries. Chris’s crew is Paul Westlake, Jann Neergaard, Zach Hurst, and Kazuhiko Sofuku. Sailing with Gavin is Sean Clarkson, Jon Ziskind, Rod Dawson and Ed Smyth. Today the guys were out training in the MRXs on the Waitemata Harbour.

Earlier today, our CEO and Skipper Chris Dickson and Sailing Team Manager (and race crew member) Craig Monk met with the New Zealand media as we launched our first training session here since the Auckland summer of 2004, which was at the outset of our campaign. Chris and Craig said the focus now will be on crew work development and race training.

We are operating from the former Team New Zealand base in Auckland’s Viaduct Harbour. Grant Davidson has the ops side running smoothly. Tim Hacket and our shore team are putting the final touches on USA 71 for sailing next week. Aimee Daniel and Kristen Sneyd are making sure all team members are settling in. Except for the jetlag, the transition to New Zealand has been a fairly easy one as even those team members not from New Zealand have spent time here during the past two America’s Cups.

Even the taxi drivers here know our team -- when I asked to be taken to the BMW ORACLE Racing base in the Viaduct, the cabbie quickly noted that this was Chris Dickson’s team and said, "Welcome back!" Even the local restaurant proprietors seem know much of the latest scuttlebutt, and ask after some of our team members by name.

We would like take this opportunity to wish our American team members, partners, sponsors and supporters a Happy Thanksgiving.

Stay tuned to our team web site (www.bmworacleracing.com) and blog (www.bmworacleracing.com/blog) for the latest from New Zealand, the US, Spain and other locations around the globe as we continue our 24-7 preparations for next year's Louis Vuitton and America’s Cups. --Jane Eagleson

Following photos by Ivor Wilkins/BMWOR.