Team Australia Pledges To Assign Local Sailors To America's Cup Crew

Team Australia "has pledged to assign all its crew spots for the next America's Cup to local sailors," despite the fact that new regatta laws are likely to require that only 25% of crew members come from the syndicate's country of registration, according to Rupert Guinness of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. Syndicate CEO Iain Murray "made the commitment in Sydney on Thursday at the unveiling of Team Australia's AC45 wingsail catamaran." Murray also announced that Olympic Gold Medalist Mathew Belcher "would be skipper." Team Australia -- under the Hamilton Island Yacht Club, the official Cup challenger -- will start selecting crew for their campaign during an "entente cordiale" with Oracle Team USA, "whereby the rival crews will train together on Sydney Harbour from now until June" (SMH, 3/6).