New starting helm

'Just routine' say GBR Challenge as they make a significant change to their afterguard for tomorrow's race against Prada

GBR Challenge's race tommorrow against Prada's Luna Rossa will see Andy Green replaced by Andy Beadsworth as starting helmsman on board Peter Harrison's Wight Lightning.

A spokewoman for GBR Challenge played down this significant change in the British team's afterguard. "Andy's not been axed from the team. The team work on a rotational basis. Out of the squad of 32 there is no A or B team. A team is chosen for each race".

To date in the first races of the Louis Vuitton Cup round robins Wight Lightning has held her own but has never clearly got the upper hand. One of her most effect starts to date ironically was in the match against Le Defi Areva when Wight Lightning was late into the starting area following problems with a batten just minutes before the gun.

Other crew changes have been made during the course of the last races - Ben Morrison-Jack replacing Jonathan Taylor in the pit/runner position, Toby Isles taking over from Simon Fry as a trimmer and Ian Weighell from Guy Reid grinding.

Beadsworth, a former Olympian in the Soling class, for the latter stages of GBR Challenge's training was driving the B-boat.

Clearly Ian Walker, David Barnes and the team who choose the crew each day want to see if Beadsworth can make more of an impression , but is this change of dynamic in Wight Lightning's afterguard a good idea after training for so long with Green in this position? Email your views to feedback@thedailysail.com