James's Role
Date of Birth: June 28, 1979
Nationality: Australia
Position: Skipper
When James Spithill debuted on the America’s Cup in 1999 scene as a fresh-faced 19-year-old many believed he would one day win the America’s Cup.
He did on Feb. 14, 2010, at the helm of the most extreme yacht the competition has ever seen; the 90-foot long by 90-foot wide trimaran USA 17. In winning the 33rd America’s Cup as skipper of ORACLE Racing at the age of 30, he became the youngest skipper to ever win the revered trophy.
Spithill was also was the youngest to ever helm an America’s Cup yacht when he skippered Young Australia in the 1999-2000 Louis Vuitton Cup challenger series in New Zealand.
Twice he’s been named the Australian Male Yachtsman of the Year (2005-06 and 2009-10). Upon accepting the award a second time Spithill said,
“This might be an individual award, but there’s no way I could’ve achieved what I have without the help of ORACLE Racing team and my family. It was an incredible feeling to pull it all together and pull off the America’s Cup victory.”
Spithill also has a number of world titles to his credit, including the championship of 2005 match racing worlds, 2005 Melges 24 championship, 2010 RC 44 Match Racing championship and the 2010 RC 44 championship.
Spithill now leads one of two entries by ORACLE Racing in the America’s Cup World Series. The ORACLE Racing Spithill crew includes wingsail trimmer Dirk de Ridder, tactician John Kostecki, trimmer Joe Newton and bowman Piet van Nieuwenhuijzen.
He was the “test pilot” of the prototype AC45 catamaran class. “The AC45 is a high-adrenaline machine. It’s the coolest boat in the world today,” Spithill said. “The boats are physically demanding and it takes a lot to get them around the race track. But we’ve prepared in both light winds and heavy, and we feel extra motivation to win the first event of the America’s Cup World Series.”
Career Highlights
2011: America's Cup World Series San Diego Match Racing Championship, winner
America's Cup World Series San Diego Fleet Racing Championship, winner
America's Cup World Series Plymouth Fleet Racing Championship, winner
America’s Cup World Series Cascais Match Racing Championship, winner
America’s Cup World Series Cascais Overall Championship, 3rd place
2010: 33rd America’s Cup, BMW ORACLE Racing, winner
Australian Male Sailor of the Year (2009-10)
International C Class Catamaran Championship, runner-up
RC 44 2010 World Championship, Yacht 17, winner
RC 44 2010 Match Racing World Championship, Yacht 17, winner
2009: International A Class Catamaran World Championship, 6th place
2007: Louis Vuitton Cup, Luna Rossa Challenge, finalist
2006: Australian Male Sailor of the Year (2005-06)
2005: ISAF Match Race World Championship, winner
Melges 24 World Championship, winner
Bermuda Gold Cup, winner
2003: Louis Vuitton Cup, OneWorld, semifinalist
2000: Louis Vuitton Cup, Young Australia