Robertson names her crew

Double Olympic gold medallist to helm Team iShares Extreme 40 this season

Shirley Robertson, double Olympic gold medallist and skipper of Team iShares for the 2009 iShares Cup Extreme 40 Sailing Series, has confirmed her crew for the season. Robertson will be joined by New Zealand's Jonathan Macbeth and fellow Brits Hugh Styles and Nick Hutton.

Three-time America's Cup campaigner Macbeth joins the iShares Cup circuit for the first time this year. 'Jono' joined Team New Zealand in 1997 for the team's successful defence of the America's Cup in 2000 and stayed on for two additional campaigns. He is now part of BMW Oracle Racing Team and will gain valuable multi hull experience on an Extreme 40 this summer as trimmer for Team iShares in the iShares Cup.

Former British Olympic Tornado sailor Styles and bowman Hutton are no strangers to the Extreme 40 class. Styles sailed in the inaugural iShares Cup in 2007 and went on to skipper Team iShares in 2008, whilst Hutton, the youngest member of the crew at 27, was part of Robertson's Extreme 40 team in last year's iShares Cup.

"We have a really strong team for 2009," said Robertson following a two week stint of intensive training in Hyeres, South of France and Cowes, Isle of Wight. "Between them the guys have an impressive range of experience and we worked really well together on the water over the past couple of weeks. It will be interesting to see how we fare against the stiff competition we'll have in the iShares Cup, but so far the signs are good and we're looking forward to a successful season."

The iShares Cup Extreme 40 Sailing Series kicks off in Venice on 15 May.