America's Cup Word Series update, Oracle Team USA ready to rumble in Naples

From the following Sail-World article submitted by Lisa Ramsperger

http://www.sail-world.com/Australia/Americas-Cup-World-Series,-Naples:-Oracle-Team-USA-ready-for-battle/108460

Following on from alternating between sailing the AC72 and training for the next America’s Cup World Series, Oracle Team USA is in Naples, Italy, and ready to focus on racing the AC45. Skipper Tom Slingsby and crew Sam Newton (wing trimmer), Kinley Fowler (jib trimmer), Rome Kirby (runner) and Piet van Nieuwenhuijzen (bowman), arrived over the weekend and hit the ground running in preparation for this week’s regatta, held April 16-21.

'All of our focus has been on the AC72, but on the days that we are not sailing on the AC72, we have been able get out on the AC45s. We’ve had a few training sessions over the last couple of weeks which have been really important,' said Slingsby. 'We’ll have a few days of training and hopefully improve as much as we can before racing starts. And, I know to expect huge crowds – last year was the biggest crowd I’ve seen in sailing, so I’ll be ready for that, which will hopefully take away some of the nerves.'

Slingsby, gold medalist from the London 2012 Olympic Games, will helm the team’s entry in the regatta, marking his first ACWS as skipper. He has been in the tactician role in previous ACWS regattas, including the 2012 ACWS in Naples.

'I’m really excited,' Slingsby said. 'I’ve been given an opportunity that I’m sort of taking with both hands and trying to run with it. It won’t be easy – any skipper in their first event in the AC45s hasn’t traditionally done too well, and it’s always quite tough. But, we’ll do our best. We’re a young, motivated team and we’ll see how it goes.'

The crew was on the water shortly after landing in Naples. On Sunday, they raced in the Coast Parade Trophy 2013 along the Naples coastline, finishing third.
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