ORACLE TEAM USA

Defending the Cup: Embracing a New Era

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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.

Oracle Technology in Action

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

CEO Russell Coutts is an Olympic gold medalist and the most successful skipper in the history of the America's Cup. 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 US.
Tactician John Kostecki is an Olympic silver medalist, America's Cup winner, and victor of the round-the-world Volvo Ocean Race.
The yacht the team sailed to win the 33rd America's Cup, USA 17, was 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.

Team Timeline

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On August 31, 2012, ORACLE TEAM USA's first AC72, 17, was launched and sailed in the San Francisco Bay.
During the 2011-12 season, Jimmy Spithill and crew captured the inaugural America's Cup World Series Season Championship. Racing at the sixth and concluding event of the 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 February 14, 2010, ORACLE TEAM USA won the 33rd America's Cup with a 2–0 triumph over Swiss defender Alinghi.
In the 2010 victory, skipper James Spithill became the youngest skipper to ever win the America's Cup; he was 30 years old at the time.
ORACLE TEAM USA was founded on August 11, 2000, by Larry Ellison.