Chris Dickson sacked from Americas Cup oracle racing team

by Tim Jeffery on 16 Feb 2002 Chris Dickson was sacked yesterday as skipper and
helmsman of Larry Ellison's Oracle Racing.
Although they are not even competing in this week's
International Regatta in Auckland, the news dominated
America's Cup circles, in which Oracle Racing are due to
compete in 2003. Dickson's departure follows last
November's sidelining of Paul Cayard in the team, whose
software billionaire backer intends to steer in the cup
himself.

Meanwhile, a feeble wind ended GBR Challenge's hopes of
making the final match race pairing in the International
Regatta, while Dean Barker saw the end of NZL-60's
unbeaten record when he lost to Peter Gilmour on
OneWorld.

Ross Field's NewsCorp suffered a second blow in the Volvo
Ocean Race's fourth leg from Auckland to Rio de Janeiro,
losing its rudder yesterday in a failure which may be a
direct consequence of hitting ice on Feb 5. NewsCorp is still
racing with an emergency rudder, but is now in sixth place.

In Chile, Gunnar Krantz's SEB retired from the leg a week
after being dismasted.