America’s Cup: Jimmy Spithill to pursue third win with Oracle Team USA

Australian Jimmy Spithill has re-signed with two-time America’s Cup champion Oracle Team USA.

While Spithill’s announcement Monday wasn’t a surprise, the winning skipper tells The Associated Press he was offered jobs with other syndicates after leading Oracle Team USA’s stunning comeback over Emirates Team New Zealand in the 34th America’s Cup on San Francisco Bay in September. Oracle won eight straight races to keep the oldest trophy in international sports in the United States.

Spithill says his relationships with software billionaire Larry Ellison, who owns Oracle Team USA, and syndicate CEO Russell Coutts, a five-time cup winner, are important.

He’s also looking forward to the chance to win the Auld Mug a third straight time with San Francisco-based Oracle. In 2010, Spithill, then 30, became the youngest skipper to win the Cup.

Source: Associated Press, Feb. 3, 2014