Please select your home edition
Edition
Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 350

America's Cup - Tech Tuesday - Philippe Presti on being a super-coach

by Oracle Team USA on 23 Jan 2017
Coach Philippe Presti with skipper Jimmy Spithill - they have been working together since 2004 and Luna Rossa - Oracle Team USA Sam Greenfield/Oracle Team USA http://www.oracleteamusa.com
Oracle Team USA USA skipper Jimmy Spithill and coach Philippe Presti have a relationship that dates back to when both were competing on the match racing circuit in the early 2000s.

During the Valencia America’s Cup from 2004-2007, both were with Luna Rossa for that campaign and a bond was forged that endures to this day.

Presti – an Olympian and world class match racer in his own right – is the sailing team coach, but certainly his role is much deeper than that. He is responsible for guiding the team’s on the water activities, and helping the performance group – sailors, designers, builders – arrive at breakthroughs to improve performance.

“My role is to ask questions,” Presti says. “If I’m answering questions, something is wrong! I make sure everyone is trying to solve the problem.

“It’s like breaking a code. These guys are inventing new ways of sailing. Last year we couldn’t foil-gybe and today we’re doing foiling tacks. They’re creating the future of sailing.

“He’s really our eyes off the boat,” says skipper Jimmy Spithill. “He gives us feedback right away, whether it’s a practice race or a line-up, he tells us what he’s seen and it’s difficult on the boat to get that picture.

“I think he’s so good because of how he comes across. The guys really listen to him.”

Presti gathers all of the data off the boat, including video and physiological data from the sailors, and organizes it for the debrief sessions. He says the goal is to find improvements as small as one meter at a time.

“We want to improve. We want to find the extra meter that could make the difference at the end,” he says. “The goal is just to find that meter. It could be a technical change, it could be how we manage the boat... We find a solution and we try it and the next day we try to nail that one and then we try to find another meter.



“This game is so interesting because it’s unpredictable. Someone comes with another solution – better or worse – but it’s so motivating because every day you discover something new.”

The big breakthroughs, he says, often come during race periods, whether at the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series or in training against another team.

“That’s the beauty of sport,” says Presti. “If you just practice by yourself you will have your limit and eventually you will challenge your limit a little bit, but when you face adversity, and the best adversity is the opposition, they will push you harder. There is nothing better than competition.”

He says the challenges presented by foiling at speeds approaching 50mph are something he never thought he’d need to deal with as a sailor.

“These boats are something different. The speed they produce is very stimulating and exciting because you face other problems you never imagined. All of a sudden you are taking off and there’s another dimension. Sometimes I wonder where we will end up!”

Sea Sure 2025Excess CatamaransSelden 2020 - FOOTER

Related Articles

Australia Cup to debut in Sydney
The TP52 Australia Class and Super 40's will combine in a specialised format for the first time The TP52 Australia Class, and Super 40's will combine in a specialised format for the first time over two weekends of fast paced racing, 11-12 & 25-26 October from the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia.
Posted today at 8:32 am
29er World Championship at Porto Day 3
Porto Turns It On as Qualifying Series Wraps Up After a delayed start, Porto delivered on Day 3! With a big swell and light breeze early on, racing was slow to begin, but when the sea breeze kicked in around 13:30, it turned into a spectacular afternoon of 29er racing.
Posted today at 5:23 am
Rory Meehan crowned iQFoil Youth World Champion
Brest, France hosted 400 competitors from 36 countries The Youth World Championship in Brest, France hosted 400 competitors from 36 countries - 150 in my U19 Men's fleet.
Posted today at 5:11 am
Go Further. Go Faster. Go North.
Global footprint and local focus keep you connected Wherever you sail, North Sails is there—with you and for you. From your home waters to world-class regattas, our global footprint and local focus keep you connected.
Posted on 5 Aug
Elliott 5.9: Fun times in Whitianga
The third Elliott 5.9 Travellers Series regatta was held on July 26th and 27th in Whitianga The third Elliott 5.9 Travellers Series regatta was held on July 26th and 27th in Whitianga, bringing a small but highly competitive fleet to the beautiful Mercury Bay.
Posted on 5 Aug
PredictWind launches PredictRain
New app From PredictWind delivers hyper-accurate, short-term rain predictions PredictRain is a groundbreaking standalone app that combines advanced AI modelling with intuitive tools to provide timely and precise rain forecasts for all types of outdoor activities.
Posted on 5 Aug
49er & 49erFX Junior Worlds champions crowned
One final race before the storm kicked in at Øresund The final day of the 2025 Junior World Championship delivered high drama and even higher waves. As wind and rain swept across the Øresund, Race Committees managed to run one final race before safety concerns forced an early end to the competition.
Posted on 5 Aug
Admiral's Cup: Emotional, Rare, Unforgettable
The 2025 Admirals' Cup set the stage for a bold new era in offshore racing Once the pinnacle of international offshore sailing, the return of the Admiral's Cup was a resounding success, setting the stage for a bold new era in offshire racing.
Posted on 4 Aug
29er World Championship at Porto Day 2
The breeze never quite showed up but the action didn't stop Day two of the Porto World Championships began with hope—and strategy. With light winds in the forecast, the race committee scheduled an early start in anticipation of a short sea breeze window.
Posted on 4 Aug
RS Aero World & Youth Worlds overall
The fine Brittany weather and afternoon sea breezes have provided excellent racing The stage was set for a dramatic final day showdown in Quiberon Bay, France, to decide the titles for the 7th RS Aero Worlds and 4th Youth Worlds.
Posted on 4 Aug