TeamOrigin crew line-up

Fresh influx from Alinghi...with possibly another significant one to come

TeamOrigin have announced their crew line-up for next week's 1851 Cup. It is interesting to note that there has been a further influx from Alinghi with Juan Vila as navigator in the afterguard, joined by American Mark Mendelblatt who was alongside Ben Ainslie at Emirates Team New Zealand in the lead up to the 32nd America's Cup.

Two of Russell Coutts' Kiwi supreme team are now on board from Alinghi. Warwick Fleury has been sailing on the British Cup team's TP52 this season and is joined by upwind trimmer Simon Daubney. Also from Alinghi is Rodney Ardern running the pit.

According to TeamOrigin CEO Grant Simmer these appointment aren't permanent, they are still trying out new people in different positions. "When we know if we are racing multihulls or monohulls and how big the crew has to be then we’ll really hone in. In the meantime I think it is great for Ben and Ian to sail with a guy like Simon. They have really enjoyed sailing with Warwick and Juan Vila as a navigator. I think it is good for us and TeamOrigin to use this opportunity to mix it up a bit."

Many other Alinghi team members have ended up at BMW Oracle such as Chief Structural Engineer Dirk Kramers, bowman Piet van Nieuwenhuijzen, Murray Jones, Dean Phipps and Kurt Jordan. Brad Butterworth was allegedly supposed to be signing with Luna Rossa.

Negotiations are indeed well underway to entice Rolf Vrolijk to take the place of Juan Kouyoumdjian as TeamOrigin's head designer.

And Ernesto Bertarelli? "If the Cup is in multihulls I wouldn’t be surprised to see Alinghi back. Seriously. I don’t think he could resist it," says Simmer.

TeamOrigin crew line-up: 

Ben Ainslie Skipper & Helmsman
Iain Percy Tactician
Andrew Simpson Strategist
Juan Vila Navigator
Mark Mendelblatt Upwind Traveller
Anthony Nossiter Runner/Pit Assist
David Carr Runner/Aft Grind
Warwick Fleury Mainsail Trim
Chris Brittle Forward Grind
Will McCarthy Main Grind
Mark McTeague Forward Grind
Christian Kamp Trim Down
Simon Daubney Trim Up
Rodney Ardern Pit
Julien Cressant Mast
Matt Cornwell Mid Bow
Matthew Mitchell Bow