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James Spithill        

Skipper for Oracle Team USA; Two-Time America's Cup Champions

James ‘Jimmy’ Spithill grew up on the water in Elvina Bay, Australia, with no road access. The only way to get to school or the mainland was by boat. He started windsurfing at the age of 5, and when he was 9 his father found an old abandoned wooden 2-person dinghy which they restored. Using this boat, he won the first race he entered at age 10, together with his younger sister Katie. He then moved on to dinghies and skiffs.

At 19 he became the youngest America’s Cup skipper helming Young Australia 2000. At 30 years old he became the youngest skipper to ever win the America’s Cup on board the 90 foot trimaran USA17 and in 2013 his Oracle Team USA team successfully defended the Cup by defeating Emirates Team New Zealand 9-8 after coming back from 8-1, in what has been described as the greatest comeback in international sport.

He spent many years on the Match racing circuit and One design fleet racing and won multiple World Championships in both disciplines. His first Sydney-Hobart was the infamous 1998 Race on Ragamuffin and following a few more attempts, he won the line honours on board Comanche in 2017, breaking the race record at the same time.

During the 35th edition of the America´s Cup he skippered and helmed the Oracle Team USA boat to win the Louis Vuitton Qualifiers.

He joined Luna Rossa Challenge team for his 7th America´s Cup campaign as Helmsman, winning the Prada Cup, but they were beaten by Team New Zealand 7-3.

He now holds the record for Most AC Race Wins as a Skipper.

He is the CEO and driver for SailGP Team USA currently holding the 2nd position on the leader board for Season 2.

When not training with the team, Spithill takes a keen interest in flying (he’s flown with the Blue Angels, the Red Bull Flying Bulls and holds his Private Pilot’s License). He is also an accomplished amateur boxer and has done two Molokai to Oahu SUP crossings.

News


Oracle's Skipper Shows No Fear in Defending Cup - NYTimes.com
James Spithill, Oracle Team USA's skipper, paddle boarding in San Francisco Bay. ... When the sailor James Spithill was a youngster growing up on Scotland ...
Energetic James Spithill guides Oracle Team USA - SFGate
Energetic James Spithill guides Oracle Team USA After six or seven hours on the water one day, during which he dueled with Ben Ainslie on Oracle Team ...

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