ORACLE TEAM USA 17 – the team’s AC72 racing yacht – capsized during training on Tuesday, Oct. 16, at approximately 3 pm PT on San Francisco Bay. All crew are safe. It was the boat’s eighth day on the water since the launch in August.
“We did something we had hoped we would never do, and that’s capsize an AC72,” said skipper Jimmy Spithill. “The most important part is that all the crew are safe, and no injuries.
“A big thank you goes to our shore team, our support crew and the U.S. Coast Guard as they were standing by,” Spithill said.
The team was training throughout the afternoon in San Francisco, with winds slowly building as the day progressed.
“We called for a bear-away as we were out training,” explained tactician Tom Slingsby. “The winds were blowing about 25 knots, and there was strong ebb current at the time. We started the bear-away, and as the boat accelerated it pitch-poled.
“We didn’t know what was going to happen with the new boat,” Slingsby continued. “When the nose went down, the wing hit and a few guys went in the water. We were unsure if the wing would snap, so we all climbed off the boat. Luckily, everyone is accounted for and no one was hurt. The wing is pretty badly damaged.
The boat and crew safely returned to the team base at Pier 80 early Wednesday morning, Oct. 17. ORACLE TEAM USA support boats were on hand throughout the training period, and they towed the AC72 from the capsize area near the Golden Gate Bridge back to the team base. The team is now assessing the damage.
“There’s no question this is a setback,” Spithill said. “It’s going to be a big test for this team. But, I’ve seen this team in a similar situation in the last campaign, before we won the America’s Cup. A strong team will bounce back, and this won’t stop us from winning the America’s Cup. Obviously, we’ve got a lot of work, and we have to look at our plan now. I’m still confident in the team we’ve got and we can go out and win again.
© Guilain GRENIER/ ORACLE TEAM USA
Ferrari ci guadagna solo nel breve, ma le storie di mare raramente finiscono al primo bordo. Soldini non era solo il team principal di Hypersail, era il volto umano di un progetto complesso, un ponte tra ingegneria, avventura e racconto
Il Campionato Europeo Formula Wing di IWSA - Classe Internazionale di World Sailing è organizzato dal Reale Yacht Club Canottieri Savoia, in collaborazione con la Federazione Italiana Vela e con Classe Kiteboarding e Wingsport Italia
Tra i nomi dei partenti spiccano Ambrogio Beccaria, Francesca Clapcich, Sam Goodchild e la giovane Violette Dorange, accanto a navigatori esperti come Arnaud Boissières e Manuel Cousin
Le regate organizzate dal CNSM si configurano come eventi capaci di generare un indotto significativo con Caorle e l’intero comprensorio che beneficiano di un flusso costante di visitatori in periodi strategici della stagione
Riccardo Pianosi nel Formula Kite continua a mostrare una gestione lucida e concreta. Marta Maggetti prosegue un percorso estremamente regolare nell’iQFOiL. Giacomo Ferrari/Alessandra Dubbini restano agganciati al gruppo di testa del Misto 470
Il campione del mondo in carica nel Formula Kite sta confermando il suo status con una regata di altissimo livello: leadership mantenuta anche nella fase di Gold Fleet, nonostante condizioni variabili e una concorrenza sempre più serrata
Sono ben 193, ad oggi, le barche iscritte, numero destinato ulteriormente a crescere nelle prossime settimane per attestarsi sui livelli delle ultime edizioni e confermare la 151 come la regata offshore più partecipata del Mediterraneo
Il bilancio finale parla chiaro: tre podi, tutti arrivati dalle discipline “foil”, oggi centrali nella vela olimpica. Argento per Marta Maggetti e Riccardo Pianosi, bronzo per Nicolò Renna
È stato raggiunto il record storico di iscrizioni della Tre Golfi Sailing Week con 211 partecipanti tra ORC, Maxi e Multihull
Si è chiusa con tre prove portate a termine per tutte le flotte la prima giornata della prima tappa dell’Eurochallenge Open Skiff e della prima Regata Nazionale RS Aero, in corso di svolgimento a Porto Rotondo