QUOTABLE: In a Cage, On a Wild Animal

“Sailing an AC72…it’s kind of like a mountain climber taking on Mount Everest. It’s probably one of the most beautiful things ever, but in an instant it can reach out and grab you; try to knock you down. And we’ve experienced that, we flipped over one of these AC72s at the end of last year. We caught the wrath of the Bay. It turned on us. It is such a challenging and demanding place to sail. It has the beauty with its iconic landmarks, but then you have the currents which are different every day, and the wind is always different. Then there is the fog and commercial traffic and other people enjoying the Bay. It is such a tight confined area. For us, on these boats, it feels like we are in a cage. We are on this wild animal, we are in a cage, and it doesn’t let up… For any sailor who comes to the Bay, you are preparing yourself, and expecting, a challenge. But it is such a rewarding place to sail.” – Jimmy Spithill, Oracle Team USA skipper