2016 America’s Cup World Series - Oracle Team USA in action

by Peter Rusch on 9 May 2016

2016 America’s Cup World Series - Oracle Team USA Sam Greenfield

2016 America’s Cup World Series - Oracle Team USA finished second at the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series New York and returned to the podium. Skipper Jimmy Spithill and crew tackled shifty conditions to close the weekend with 50 points after three races on Super Sunday, two points behind event winner Emirates Team New Zealand. Oracle Team USA has now been on the podium in each of the five Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series events to date.

“This is a great result for us,” said skipper Jimmy Spithill. “In these conditions you have to roll with the punches and keep fighting. We wanted to win, but we’ll take the second place. And, hats off to Emirates Team New Zealand. They looked like they didn’t have a hope in hell of winning, then came from nowhere. Hey, that’s sport, and results do the talking.”

Thousands of fans filled the Event Village, lined the Battery Park Esplanade and cheered from the Hudson River. The weekend marked the return of America’s Cup racing to New York for the first time in 96 years.

“The crowds were insane. It goes to show how popular the America’s Cup is becoming in America,” Spithill said. “It’s been 100 years since we’ve been here and I think we better get back here pretty quickly!”

2016 America’s Cup World Series - Oracle Team USA © Sam Greenfield

The boats were flying at 17 knots across the Hudson in the first race of the day - a nine-leg race. In shifty breeze, Artemis Racing claimed the win and Oracle Team USA crossed the line in fifth. The course was reset and shortened to five legs for race two, and Groupama Team France squeezed past Oracle Team USA to seal the win.

Oracle Team USA was tied in points with Emirates Team New Zealand heading into the third and final race of the day. The start saw them flying off the line, while the Kiwi crew snagged the mark. With shifting breeze and current playing a factor, the race became any team’s to win. And, Emirates Team New Zealand caught the wind on the final leg to come from behind for the victory, with Oracle Team USA finishing second.

“The racing was fun because it was never over. There were a lot of opportunities,” said Spithill. “Constant over taking, lead changes, and that’s what racing is all about.”

2016 America’s Cup World Series - Podium © Peter Rusch

The results from New York did not change the top three positions in the overall standings for the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series, but Oracle Team USA did widen the gap between Land Rover BAR. Emirates Team New Zealand holds on to first place with 244 points, followed by Oracle Team USA (236) and Land Rover BAR (227).

Next on the schedule, the team heads across the U.S. for the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series Chicago, taking racing to fresh water in the Windy City.

“I can’t wait for Chicago,” said Spithill. “I think everyone has been blown away with how good New York has been. Chicago will be as good, potentially even bigger crowds. It’s a huge sporting city, the race track will be right downtown, and Chicago will be really, really good.”

Viewers in the United States can tune in to NBCSN and NBC Sports Live Extra for highlights from racing in New York on Saturday, May 21 at 2 pm ET.