About

About the Team

When ORACLE TEAM USA won the 33rd America’s Cup in February 2010, not only did team owner Larry Ellison succeed in his goal of bringing the America’s Cup “home” to the United States, but his team became the Defender of the 34th America’s Cup.

Led by CEO Russell Coutts and skipper James Spithill, ORACLE TEAM USA is comprised of the best international sailing, design, build and support talent to defend the trophy on San Francisco Bay in 2013.

Team Highlights
  • On August 31, 2012, ORACLE TEAM USA’s first AC72, 17, was launched and sailed in the San Francisco Bay.
  • ORACLE TEAM USA SPITHILL took home both the match racing and fleet racing titles at the October 2012 America’s Cup World Series regatta in San Francisco. The crew of helmsman Jimmy Spithill, Dirk de Ridder, John Kostecki, Joe Newton and Jonathan MacBeth won in dramatic fashion, bouncing back from a capsize in the fifth fleet race.
  • It was an ORACLE TEAM USA sweep as ORACLE TEAM USA SPITHILL claimed the fleet race overall win and ORACLE TEAM USA COUTTS captured the match racing championship at the August 2012 America’s Cup World Series regatta in San Francisco.
  • Jimmy Spithill and crew captured the inaugural America’s Cup World Series Season Championship. Racing at the sixth and concluding event of the 2011-12 season, ACWS – Newport, Spithill, John Kostecki, Dirk de Ridder, Joe Newton and Piet van Nieuwenhuijzen won the title with the high score of 102 points.

  • On Feb. 14, 2010, ORACLE TEAM USA won the 33rd America’s Cup with a 2-0 triumph over Swiss defender Alinghi
  • The yacht the team sailed to win the 33rd America’s Cup, USA 17, is the fastest boat in the history of the event
  • The 90-foot by 90-foot trimaran was powered by a 223-foot tall wingsail, the largest wing ever built
  • In the victory, skipper James Spithill (AUS) became the youngest skipper to ever win the America’s Cup. Born June 28, 1979; he was 30 years old at the time of victory
  • CEO/Afterguard Russell Coutts (NZL) is an Olympic Gold medalist and the most successful skipper in the history of the America’s Cup. As a skipper, Coutts is undefeated, 14-0, in races for the America’s Cup. He has won the Cup four times for three different countries (New Zealand (twice), Switzerland and the U.S.)
  • Tactician John Kostecki (USA) is an Olympic silver medalist, America’s Cup winner and victor of the round-the-world Volvo Ocean Race
  • ORACLE TEAM USA was founded on Aug. 11, 2000, by founder Larry Ellison