The Ericsson Racing Team is busy squeezing in all the practice it can before Saturday’s race in Port Phillip Bay, Melbourne. Inshore tactician John Kostecki (US) has arrived and the team took to the water yesterday to practice manouevre training with Pirates of the Caribbean.

As skipper Neal McDonald (GBR) confirms, Kostecki is very much the man in charge for the in-port races. “He’s been with us since the start and he’s got a good strength in both offshore and inshore racing. As a tactician he’s second to none and I’m very pleased to have him on the team. Neither of us have done a huge amount of sailing in the Bay, but we will go out there and take it on.”

Ericsson returned to the water on Wednesday and the crew headed out to check all the systems onboard are in good working order - from the mast, to the rig and the canting keel system. Every single piece of titanium equipment on the boat has been scanned.

Magnus Olsson (SWE), Ericsson’s Technical Director and five times Whitbread / Volvo Ocean Race veteran, played an integral role on the water today. Charged with laying the buoys and offering expert advice to the crew, Olsson is optimistic about the future. “The chemistry between the crew is strong and on the technical side we have come to good decisions on how to overcome our problems.”

“We are focusing hard on crew work and getting into race mode,” said Kostecki. “Difficult times can make you a stronger team and everyone is keen to get out racing again.

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