Please select your home edition
Edition
Henri-Lloyd Dynamic Range

Port Cities Challenge results in second, seventh for Oracle + Video

by Tim Jeffery on 14 Nov 2011
ORACLE Racing - America’s Cup World Series San Diego 2011: Port Cities Challenge Guilain Grenier Oracle Team USA http://www.oracleteamusamedia.com/
In the America’s Cup World Series Port Cities Challenge taking place in San Diego, Oracle Racing’s Jimmy Spithill and his crew consisting of John Kostecki, Dirk de Ridder, Joe Newton and Piet van Nieuwenhuijzen finished with 42 points, which left them seven points behind winner Emirates Team New Zealand. Spithill, however, pointed to the crew’s performance on the start line as an area for improvement.

'We never nailed a start,' said Spithill. 'We were OK, conservative, mid-pack. I thought the guys sailed very well in the pack. Every time we were able to climb forward and get out of it. Boat handling was really physical today and JK did good job on the wind. I was happy with our damage control but we have to do a better job on the line to win races.'

Today’s weather was in marked contrast to yesterday’s steady, soaking rain. Brilliant sunshine and a nice eight to ten knot westerly greeted the sailors for the scheduled start at 1:10 p.m. Four races – one of approximately forty minutes and three at 18-20 minutes – were held with the wind topping out around fourteen knots in some puffs.

The weather enticed many fans to visit Broadway Pier where they had a front row seat to the action. The leeward gate was placed right in front of the pier and fans were able to watch the sailors as they furled the massive gennakers and rounded the gate, often times within feet of each other.


Oracle Racing Coutts finished the regatta in seventh place with 33 points. New skipper Darren Bundock, an accomplished multihull sailor, said it was an average day where nothing seemed to go their way.

'We didn’t have good starts and when we made up a bit of ground we would generally lose it,' said Bundock. 'We also had an OCS and a penalty. I guess if you can get those sorts of things out of the way in one day that’s the way to do it; practice race is the time to get it wrong.'

Racing for the ACWS San Diego begins in earnest on Wednesday with three fleet races scheduled. The races will help determine the seeding order for the match racing championship, scheduled Thursday through Saturday. A final, winner-take-all fleet race is scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 20. Speed Trials also are scheduled for Wednesday and next Sunday.

America’s Cup World Series San Diego – Port Cities Challenge:

1. Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL) 2-3-1-7-2-2 — 49 points
2. ORACLE Racing Spithill (USA) 3-8-2-5-3-3 — 42
3. Artemis Racing (SWE) 1-4-6-9-1-5 — 41
4. Energy Team (FRA) 7-5-3-4-6-1 — 40
5. ALEPH (FRA) 8-7-5-1-5-4 — 36
6. Team Korea (KOR) 6-9-4-2-4-7 — 35
7. ORACLE Racing Coutts (USA) 4-2-8-3-8-8 — 33
8. China Team (CHN) 5-1-7-8-7-6 — 32
9. Green Comm Racing (ESP) 9-6-9-6-9-9 — 22

(Scoring: first = 10 points, second = 9, third = 8, fourth = 7, fifth = 6, sixth = 5, seventh = 4, eighth, ninth = 3)






Oracle Racing Website

Rooster 2025Armstrong 728x90 - HA Foil Range - BOTTOMZhik 2024 December

Related Articles

18th Puig Vela Clàssica Barcelona day 1
Opening victories and nautical splendor This week, Barcelona once again takes center stage in the world of classic sailing as the 18th edition of the Puig Vela Clàssica gets under way. The opening day delivered ideal conditions for a spectacular display on the water.
Posted today at 12:28 pm
Rolex Fastnet Race: IRC Two Preview
With 73 entries in IRC Two, the Rolex Fastnet Race is set to deliver a striking display. Could two new JPK 1050s upset the apple cart in IRC Two? Jean-Pierre Kelbert has a habit of breaking the mould in IRC racing, and his new 34-footer may well be a game changer in this competitive division with 73 entries.
Posted today at 10:36 am
Dragon Edinburgh Cup in Torbay overall
Tight Racing and Tactical Brilliance The final day of the 2025 Edinburgh Cup brought sunshine, shifting breeze, and two exciting races that kept the championship wide open until the very last run.
Posted today at 8:13 am
Seldén Rodkicker 50 - manual rigid vang
Specifically sized for yachts between 50 and 55 feet A Rodkicker rigid vang is designed to enhance sail handling during reefing and allows for greater sail trim control.
Posted today at 8:00 am
WASZP Games 2025: Talent & fun descend on Weymouth
Poised to be the largest and most competitive in the class's history The 2025 International WASZP Games, set to take place from July 19–25 at the Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy, are poised to be the largest and most competitive in the class's history.
Posted today at 7:23 am
Transpac 2025 Update: Moon River Tonight!
The magic of offshore racing in the 2025 Transpac A vast ocean separates Los Angeles, California, from Honolulu, Hawaii, but the boats racing in this year's Transpac have now crossed the halfway mark. Race leaders are in the tradewinds and making their approach to the Aloha State.
Posted today at 12:26 am
20 Canadians set for Long Beach Grand Slam Event
The Long Beach Olympic Classes Regatta will be held July 12-20 20 Canadian sailors will take part in the fourth and next-to-last event of the 2025 Sailing Grand Slam Series, the Long Beach Olympic Classes Regatta, to be held July 12-20 at one of the two Olympic venues for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
Posted on 10 Jul
All smiles among first finishers of the AEGEAN 600
The fastest teams crossed the finish line today at Cape Sounion As the fastest teams crossed the finish line today at Cape Sounion and made their way to the harbour at Olympic Marine, there were exhausted smiles all around.
Posted on 10 Jul
British Classic Week day 4
It was a classic Solent day in Cowes for the OneSails inshore race It was a classic Solent day in Cowes for day 4 of British Classic Week with hot temperatures, sunshine and no breeze in the morning before the sea breeze kicked in from the west and it was time to go racing.
Posted on 10 Jul
iQFOiL Worlds a Aarhus day 5
Finalists locked in for new Medal Series format With the sea breeze stubbornly refusing to make an appearance, Day 5 of the iQFOiL World Championship turned into a long waiting game both ashore and on the water.
Posted on 10 Jul