Formed in the spring of 2000 by Larry Ellison, CEO and founder of leading global software company Oracle Corporation, the team then known as Oracle BMW Racing, had a strong performance in 2003 in Auckland, New Zealand, advancing to the Louis Vuitton Cup Final, before bowing out to Alinghi, the eventual America's Cup winner.
Chris Dickson, who has sailed with Ellison throughout many big-boat campaigns, has been put in charge of all aspects of the team from the beginning of this campaign.
As Challenger of Record, the BMW ORACLE Racing team worked with Alinghi on developing the new era of the event in Europe, and Ellison has ensured the team will be in a strong position for the fight to become the Challenger for the 32nd America's Cup Match.
The race crew has been developing over the past two years and has a talented and experienced afterguard that works well together. The international crew, a mix of previous America's Cup and Volvo Ocean Race winners and other champions, is motivated and focused on 2007.
BMW ORACLE Racing earned second position on the 2004 ACC Season Champion points table. In 2005 Dickson led his team to a strong finish, with BMW ORACLE Racing closing the year tied for second on points on the season championship table. The team was unlucky on tie-breaks all season and was on the wrong end of this one as well, posting a third place finish. The Americans lead all the challengers on the Louis Vuitton Ranking table at the end of 2005.
In 2006, the American challenger finished in third place again, just one point back of Emirates Team New Zealand and Alinghi. On the Louis Vuitton Ranking table, BMW ORACLE Racing heads into Act 13 trailing the Kiwis by just two points.
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