By Colin Thompson

Sailing Correspondent

Oracle Team USA sailing team members have quickly adjusted to their new surroundings in Bermuda.

Tom Slingsby, the Oracle tactician/helmsman and sailing team manager, has assembled the crew on Island this week as the team continues to build its base at Dockyard and prepare for sailing at the beginning of May.

“Pretty much all of the guys on the sailing team are here now,” Slingsby said. “At the moment we’re helping the shore crew to get things set up, unloading containers, getting our offices set up and next week we’ll start putting the boats together. We’re still targeting May 1 for the first sail in the AC45S.

“We also have some sailing team meetings scheduled to plan our sessions next month. We’re hitting the gym — and the beach — in the mornings and we might get the Foiling Phantoms (18-foot, foiling catamarans) out next week to get out on the water here for a little sail before the AC45S is ready.”

Slingsby said team members are looking forward to making Bermuda their home for the next two years as Oracle prepares for the second defence of the America’s Cup.

“It’s been unbelievable how friendly and helpful everyone is,” he added. “We’re surrounded by crystal-clear waters, we have beautiful weather. We wake up, we go to the gym, we run on the beach, we go swimming, we head to the base and get to work. It’s amazing. We’re very happy to be here and very fortunate this will be our home for the next two years.”

Like their rivals, Oracle is still adjusting to the new America’s Cup Class rule voted in recently by the majority of the teams. And while there are implications for the design process, Slingsby said the impact on the sailing team is minimal.

“It doesn’t change too much for the crew,” he added. “We’re very happy with the guys we have. Our sailors are very dynamic and everyone can step into different roles on board, so the new America’s Cup Class won’t make us adjust too much as a sailing team. The way we sail the boat will be different, but in terms of the people we have, we’re confident in our sailors.”

Slingsby is delighted to have the crew working together again in Bermuda even in the absence of Jimmy Spithill, the Oracle skipper, who is recovering from elbow surgery.

“Jimmy’s rehab has happened to come at quite the perfect time,” Slingsby joked. “He tells us he can’t move his arm just as we’ve been put to work packing up San Francisco and setting up in Bermuda. It’s funny how he arranged that schedule!”