BMW Oracle have taken on several crew members from rival America's Cup teams, including Luna Rossa's widely-acclaimed helmsman James Spithill, for their head-to-head challenge against Swiss defenders Alinghi.

BMW Oracle announced their new team on Wednesday, hours after winning a court case against Alinghi which set them up to race the 33rd America's Cup in 90-foot catamarans either this July or next.

The American team's owner, technology mogul Larry Ellison, signed up Alinghi's former skipper Russell Coutts last July to lead his third challenge for sailing's most coveted prize.

Since then, rumours have swirled around sailing circles as to who would join Coutts, who led Team New Zealand to America's Cup victory in 1995 and defended the trophy in 2000 before moving to Alinghi for their successful 2003 challenge.

The new BMW Oracle team includes 11 crew from Prada-backed Italian challengers Luna Rossa, who disbanded after last year's America's Cup in Valencia, and nine from the old US crew.

"We have assembled a fantastic team who are not only experienced and talented but who have winning attitudes and are great fun to race with," Coutts stated.

Spithill, 28, was the fiercest starter on the Mediterranean in last year's America's Cup, when Luna Rossa thrashed BMW Oracle 5-1 in the semi-finals of the challenger play-offs.

The Australian joins with long-time sailing mates trimmer Joe Newton and navigator Michele Ivaldi and will share helming duties with Coutts. American John Kostecki will race his fifth America's Cup as tactician.

BMW Oracle also signed up crew from Team New Zealand, who will have to sit out the next regatta while Alinghi and BMW Oracle go it alone under America's Cup rules for sorting out disputes between teams.

The New Zealand team have already said they will be back in action for the 34th America's Cup, which could be raced in 2011.

Reuters