ORACLE Racing Sweeps San Diego’s America’s Cup World Series

Tuesday, 22 November 2011

In gusty winds, U.S. team ORACLE Racing sailed to victory in the international America’s Cup World Series final fleet race held on San Diego Bay on Sunday, November 20, 2011.

ORACLE Racing, already winners of Saturday’s match racing competition, became the first team to sweep the global event with a double win, closing out nine days of top-flight sailing.

“The Port of San Diego and the San Diego region are pleased that San Diego is the first U.S. city to host this newest evolution in international sail boat racing,” said Port Commissioner Bob Nelson at an after-race press conference that included the skippers of all nine boats.

“The America’s Cup World Series was exciting to watch,” added Nelson, a recreational sailor. “You are all to be congratulated for truly re-inventing the sport of sailing.”

Board of Port Commissioners Chairman Scott Peters presented the first place America’s Cup World Series trophy — a large silver plate — to the ORACLE Racing sailing crew at a public awards ceremony held Sunday, November 20, at America’s Cup Village.

Chairman Peters also presented medals to the sailing crews of ORACLE Racing, fleet race second place finishers Emirates Team New Zealand and third place finishers, Energy Team (France).

Spectators and the media gathered for the traditional ceremony, which included the dousing of the winning teams with a spray from champagne bottles.

The Port was a supporter of the nine-day event, which began on November 12. It is one of many diverse events that helps activate the waterfront and bring tourism dollars to the region.

The America’s Cup World Series, which brings America’s Cup-level racing to port cities around the globe, was first held this year in Cascais, Portugal and then Plymouth, England, before coming to San Diego. The event series continues in Naples, Italy in April 2012.

A goal of the America’s Cup Event Authority is to expand its audience and to encourage interest in sail boat racing through the agile and swift 45-foot catamarans.

The “stadium-style” races attracted thousands of sailing enthusiasts to the Port Pavilion on Broadway Pier — headquarters for the America’s Cup World Series — and along the North Embarcadero and Harbor Island to watch the high speed catamarans racing close to shore.

The America’s Cup World Series warm-ups began here on November 12 and 13 with the Port Cities Challenge. Sailing teams represented the five port cities —Coronado, Chula Vista, National City, Imperial Beach and San Diego — in competition to name “the fastest Port District city.”

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The winner was Chula Vista, represented by ORACLE Racing and skipper James Spithill.

Spithill is the defending champion of the America’s Cup, the oldest trophy in international sport at nearly 160 years old. Spithill led ORACLE Racing to victory against Alinghi of Switzerland in the 33^rd America’s Cup competition in 2010 in Valencia, Spain.

Spithill and the ORACLE Racing team practiced in San Diego for 15 months to prepare for the 33^rd America’s Cup competition.

The America’s Cup World Series is a precursor to the America’s Cup competition.

The 34^th America’s Cup races will be held in 2013 in San Francisco Bay. Plans call for crews to race aboard 72-foot catamarans.

The San Diego leg of the America’s Cup World Series was supported by Sailing Events Association San Diego, which promotes major sailboat racing events in San Diego for the benefit of the local economy. The Port contributed $316,000 to assist in launching the San Diego event.

The Port was created by the state legislature to manage San Diego Bay and surrounding waterfront land in December 1962. The Port has been responsible for $1.7 billion in public improvements in its five member cities.

The Port provides 17 public bay front and beach front parks in its member cities. The Port District regularly supports events that draw visitors and residents from throughout the region to the waterfront.