Oracle Team USA wins 34th America’s Cup

Completing what many thought an improbable comeback, ORACLE TEAM USA won Race 19 to successfully defend the 34th America’s Cup on Wednesday in San Francisco. Skipper and helmsman Jimmy Spithill guided the team’s AC72 past Emirates Team New Zealand to win by 39 seconds and retain the America’s Cup trophy. SAN FRANCISCO, USA – The winner-take-all final race started under clear skies and 18 knot winds. Both teams were off the line clean, but ORACLE TEAM USA dug its bows in around the first mark to push them 7 seconds behind Team New Zealand. After gaining ground on the second leg, the teams split the second gate with ORACLE TEAM USA improving to 3 seconds back. ??Following a pair of lead changes on Leg 3 of the race, ORACLE TEAM USA took control and maintained the front spot for good. The team continued to extend on leg four and around the final gate to win by 39 seconds. “I’d like to congratulate Emirates Team New Zealand. They are a tough team, a champion team, and we had a lot of great battles,” Spithill said. “It’s always tough when it gets to a winner-take-all scenario because it’s been such a great battle that it’s almost a crime that there has to be a winner and a loser.” The Race 19 victory was ORACLE TEAM USA’s eighth consecutive win and 11th overall. One week prior, the score was 8-1 in favor of Team New Zealand. Spithill and crew finished with a final score of 11-8, securing the extra two points required for victory due to a penalty imposed by the International Jury. “There was an energy and a ‘never give up’ attitude throughout the team,” said Spithill. “Everyone just wanted it and would fight all the way to the end, and that is what produced the boat speed.“ Racing onboard alongside Spithill on the San Francisco Bay were tactician Ben Ainslie, grinder Shannon Falcone, off side trimmer Rome Kirby, wing trimmer Kyle Langford, grinder Jonathan Macbeth, jib trimmer Joe Newton, grinder Gilberto Nobili, strategist Tom Slingsby, grinder Joe Spooner and grinder Simeon Tienpont. John Kostecki was tactician for the first five races of the regatta. ORACLE TEAM USA becomes Defender of the 35th America’s Cup.]]>