YachtRacing.com exclusive
February 14, 2002

By Rich Roberts

Chris Dickson has joined Paul Cayard on the sidelines with Larry Ellison's
America's Cup team, the Oracle Challenge, a source told YachtRacing.com.

There was no formal announcement, but the crew, currently training in Auckland, was informed at a Friday morning meeting that Dickson had been placed on a "leave of absence."

The move leaves two of the world's most prominent competitive sailors in limbo. In December, Cayard was relieved of his position as sailing director and relegated to administrative duties for reasons still unexplained to him or the public. He was given leave to sail with Amer Sports One on the current leg of the Volvo Ocean Race, which he won in 1997-98.

Dickson's departure comes as a larger surprise. He has been a key part of Ellison's sailing operations for years, long before the current campaign. As principal helmsman on Ellison's maxi, Sayonara, he drove the boat safely to victory in the tragic Sydney-to-Hobart race of 1998.

Earlier, Dickson, 40, was the top-ranked match racer in the world and was skipper for three America's Cup campaigns with New Zealand in '86-87, Japan in '92 and his own Tag Heuer bid for New Zealand in '95.

YachtRacing.com was told that the change was made "after a period of difficulties" related to personality clashes within the team but not with Ellison or his administrator, Bill Erkelens.

The move apparently was not related to training incidents with the boats involving keels falling off and a mast breaking.

John Cutler, also an Americas's Cup veteran, remains as sailing director, a role he assumed when Cayard was beached. Peter Holmberg, the world's No. 2-ranked match racer, is also a member of the afterguard and a candidate for principal helmsman. Ellison has said he also plans to do some of the driving.