The defenders confirmed this morning British sailor Ben Ainslie has been added to the afterguard at the expense of veteran American sailor John Kostecki.
The move was sign-posted yesterday when the five-time Olympic medallist joined the team for their training session, while Kostecki was nowhere to be seen - although as one final insult Ainslie was seen wearing Kostecki's life-vest.
Ainslie has helmed the team's 'B' boat in the lead-up to the regatta, but speculation he would join the crew surfaced earlier in the week after questions were raised over some of the decision-making by Kostecki, the team's tactician.
The addition of Ainslie is the only change to the Oracle crew. Team chief executive Russell Coutts warned yesterday it would be a big ask of Ainslie.
"He's obviously an extremely accomplished sailor, but Jimmy and Ben and Tommy Slingsby haven't worked together yet," Coutts said. "That's a pretty big ask at this point in the regatta."
Today looms as a pivotal day in the 34th America's Cup match after Oracle cut racing short on Tuesday following another heavy defeat to Emirates Team New Zealand.
OTUSA played its postponement card after losing race five by 1:05, a stunning defeat that saw the defender leading at the leeward gate by eight seconds. But Team NZ showed some serious wheels on the upwind leg and completed the three-nautical-mile beat 85 seconds quicker than Spithill's team. That turnaround clearly rattled an already shaken defender and led to the postponement card.
Team NZ lead the first-to-nine series 4-0, with Oracle still needing to win one further race before they can start scoring points after the international jury imposed a two-race penalty on the team as part of sanctions for making illegal modifications to their boats in the AC45 regattas.
For Team New Zealand, the path forward remains simple. Gain at least a split of each day and in time it will reach its goal of winning the America's Cup. The Kiwis need to win five races to Oracle's 10 to win the Cup.
America's Cup Events Authority chief executive Stephen Barclay likened today's races to "moving day" in golf.
"I sort of look at today in terms of golf, Saturday is often referred to as moving day, and I think today we'll have a very good insight of what is going to happen."
Oracle will have port entry for both today's races and they carry over race six from Tuesday.
ORACLE TEAM USA Crew List
Skipper: Jimmy Spithill (9), Tactician: Ben Ainslie (12), Strategist: Tom Slingsby (10), Wing trimmer: Kyle Langford (8), Jib trimmer: Joe Newton (5), Off-side trimmer: Rome Kirby (4), Grinders: Shannon Falcone (1), Joe Spooner (2), Jono MacBeth (3), Gillo Nobili (6), Simeon Tienpont (7)
Emirates Team New Zealand Crew List
Skipper/helmsman: Dean Barker (14), Tactician: Ray Davies (10), Wing Trimmer: Glenn Ashby (3), Trimmer: James Dagg (9), Bow: Adam Beashel (2), Pit: Jeremy Lomas (8), Pedestal 1: Chris Ward (7), Pedestal 2: Rob Waddell (11), Pedestal 3: Grant Dalton (6), Pedestal 4: Chris McAsey (5), Float/Grinder: Derek Saward (12)
