Golden Gate Bridge Anniversary - Oracle Team USA carry special message
by Tim Jeffery on 28 May 2012
Oracle Team USA - America’s Cup 2013 OracleTeam USA
www.oracleracing.com
Oracle Team USA’s wingsailed AC45 catamaran, skippered by the Bay Area’s John Kostecki, saluted the 75th anniversary of the 2013 America's Cup host city's most famous landmark- the Golden Gate Bridge on Sunday 27th May.
In a weekend of celebrations, hundreds of boats took to the Bay, with thousands more enjoying entertainment all the way from Fort Point, Crissy Field and Marina Green.
The team’s AC45 carried a special message on its 20m high wingsail: 'Happy 75th Anniversary from Oracle Team USA.'
'It was a really cool day,' said Kostecki, who as tactician, does not normally steer when the team competes. Rather, he calls the tactical play for skipper Jimmy Spiithill.
'I grew up sailing and racing on San Francisco Bay. It was great to be out there in our AC45 showing people what we do. When the Bay becomes the Bay Arena with the America's Cup teams racing, the bridge will be a defining image.'
Kostecki is one of San Francisco's most successful racing sailors. He is the only person to have won an Olympic medal (Silver, 1988) as a helmsman, skippered a round-the-world winning boat (2001/2) and won the America's Cup (2010).
Brought up in San Rafael, he won his first of many world titles in 1982 at San Bruno in the Sunfish class.
'Every once in a while I pinch myself,' added Kostecki. 'To be representing Oracle Team USA in the America's Cup is a pretty cool thing to have
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