Sir Ben adds Tactician To Resume

[Photoboy]

John Kostecki, the local boy done good and tactician for Oracle Racing was no where to be seen during Wednesday's practice on the AC 72 on SF Bay. Rumors had been spreading that JK was in line to be removed after Tuesdays loss to ETNZ when Oracle Racing has jumped out to a great start but was passed at leeward gate and then sail inexplicably into stronger flood on next leg.

[Rainier]

Well that sucks. Can't say I blame them, still sucks.

[Nick Salvador]

Well, start game 5 of a 2-2 World Series by walking the first 5 batters and see what happens...this is a pro sport, and good, bad, or indifferent...you're only as good as your last win. JK made some terrible calls, and Spithill lost confidence.

[Photoboy]

Jeremy says he has a pic of Ainslie wearing a Kostecki jersey

Supporting article http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/america...actice-session

[Tonapah Low]

C'mon, the body's still warm. Really?

[Charlie Tuna]

Well, start game 5 of a 2-2 World Series by walking the first 5 batters and see what happens...this is a pro sport, and good, bad, or indifferent...you're only as good as your last win. JK made some terrible calls, and Spithill lost confidence.

I doubt Spitty really had a say in the matter. Maybe was asked afterwards.

[Photoboy]

Under cover, Sir Ben keeps a low profile.

Photo: Garrick Cameron / Studio 5

[Prince of Whales]

Is "throwing team mate under the bus" the new standard in these America's Cup games?

[The Flash]

Here's a thought - let's say OR stays in the game if they lose. They know they are on the ropes, saw an interesting statistical analysis that says if from now on it's a 50/50 result on who wins any individual race, TNZ has a 91% chance of leaving with the cup.

So - you're down, on the ropes. Think Sept in the American Baseball. The team is out of it - BUT - they have some young guns who could really benefit from the experience at the big league level. Kostecki has likely called his last AC as a tactician(it's a young mans game), why not bring in the new guy?

Didn't Coutts do this for Spithill, in a similar, but opposite circumstance, they were going to win?

[Tom Mc]

Official crewlist for Oracle today lists BA as tactician

http://www.americasc...-race-at-a-time

[Photoboy]

Its Official, Kostecki Out

UPDATE: 0825 hours

ORACLE TEAM USA has decided to change tacticians, four-time Olympic gold medalist Ben Ainslie is in and past America’s Cup champion John Kostecki is out.

ORACLE TEAM USA Crew List
Skipper: Jimmy Spithill (9), Tactician: Ben Ainslie (12), Strategist: Tom Slingsby (10), Wing trimmer: Kyle Langford (8), Jib trimmer: Joe Newton (5), Off-side trimmer: Rome Kirby (4), Grinders: Shannon Falcone (1), Joe Spooner (2), Jono MacBeth (3), Gillo Nobili (6), Simeon Tienpont (7)

Emirates Team New Zealand Crew List
Skipper/helmsman: Dean Barker (14), Tactician: Ray Davies (10), Wing Trimmer: Glenn Ashby (3), Trimmer: James Dagg (9), Bow: Adam Beashel (2), Pit: Jeremy Lomas (8), Pedestal 1: Chris Ward (7), Pedestal 2: Rob Waddell (11), Pedestal 3: Grant Dalton (6), Pedestal 4: Chris McAsey (5), Float/Grinder: Derek Saward (12)

ORIGINAL POST: 0650 hours

After Tuesday’s abbreviated race program, initiated by ORACLE TEAM USA playing its one and only “postponement card,” the 34th America’s Cup resumes today with Races 6 and 7.

ORACLE TEAM USA played its postponement card after losing Race 5 by 1:05, a stunning defeat that saw the defender leading at the leeward gate by 8 seconds.But Emirates Team New Zealand showed some serious wheels on the upwind leg and completed the 3-nautical-mile beat 85 seconds quicker than ORACLE TEAM USA.That turnaround clearly rattled an already shaken defender and led to the postponement card.

Yesterday in practice, ORACLE TEAM USA had four-time Olympic gold medalist on board filling the role of tactician John Kostecki, who has come under fire for the team’s perceived tactical errors. Kostecki isn’t solely responsible for the team being down 4-0 on the scoreboard and 4-to-minus 1 in the win column, but if Ainslie is aboard today (the crew lists are usually issued around 0900 PT) it will signal that ORACLE TEAM USA feels a shake-up is needed.

For Emirates Team New Zealand, the path forward remains simple. Gain at least a split of each day and in time it will reach its goal of winning the America’s Cup. The Kiwis need to win five races to ORACLE TEAM USA’s 10 to win the Cup.

“We go out there with the same approach every race, trying to win one race at a time,” said Kiwi skipper Dean Barker at Tuesday’s press conference. “There are no easy races. It’s full on. The guys did an incredible job getting the boat around the course. The temperament was fantastic onboard; we were behind around Mark 1 and stayed in the race, which is very promising.”

Although the Kiwis spent yesterday ashore, they no doubt reviewed videotape of ways to get off the start line better. ORACLE TEAM USA has won four consecutive starts, so Barker will be looking to improve on that today. And if he does, his “cool cat” status will increase triple-fold.

[Born 2 Sail]

Bummer for JK. Who's next in line for the silver axe? Spitty?

[Buzz Light Beer]

Coutts did do it for Spithill, and Barker if I remember right.