Sailing: Faltering Frostad turns to Baird

THE AMERICAN Ed Baird is to join the Norwegian boat Innovation Kvaerner in a change of crew for the remaining four legs of the Whitbread Round the World Race.

The skipper, Knut Frostad, who has seen his boat slip to fifth overall after being the leader following the first two legs, is seeking to bring stability and a new strategy to the crew.

"We have realised that we need to modify our strategy as well as improve the decision making," he said yesterday as the fleet prepared for Saturday's start of the 4,750-mile sixth leg from Sao Sebastiao in Brazil to Fort Lauderdale in Florida. "Last but not least we need to strengthen the tactical competence on board."

Baird, a professional yachtsman, is best known for his America's Cup sailing, having coached the New Zealand team to victory in the 1995 series.

The man making way for him is Frenchman Pierre Mas. "I am sad I had to make this decision," Frostad said, "but things did not work as well as expected between Pierre and me."

Paul Standbridge will learn his fate when Dennis Conner, the syndicate head of Toshiba, flies in to Brazil tomorrow. Toshiba was stripped of 65 points from the fifth leg for illegally using her engine to remove weed from the propeller and Standbridge, the skipper, may well carry the can.