Jimmy Spithill’s grueling fitness training sessions

B-Roll footage from the first sail of Oracle Team USA’s repaired AC72 in San Francisco:

[Source: Oracle Team USA] Oracle Team USA ‘17’ was back in the San Francisco Bay today, beginning the next phase of training for the 34th America’s Cup. A crew of 11 sailors, plus members of the design and performance team, took ORACLE TEAM USA’s AC72 racing yacht on the water for testing and commissioning of the boat and new wing.

“I think everyone was anxious and pretty psyched to get going again,” said trimmer Rome Kirby. “Obviously the first day out, you’re cautious about loading the boat up, and you’re not pushing too hard yet. But all-in-all it went well, and it was a good day.”

The AC72 rolled out of the shed Monday morning and was lowered into the Bay outside the team base at Pier 80. The crew spent the afternoon running through tests and various exercises to get back up to speed.

Oracle Team USA’s repaired 17 returns on the water. San Francisco, 4 February 2013. Photo copyright Guilain Grenier / Oracle Team USA

“We treated today kind of like we had a new boat, so it was basically a sea trial,” said tactician John Kostecki. “With several changes to the boat and a brand new wing, we took everything slow, loaded it up gradually. Everyone was pretty keen to get back out there and it’s hard to hold back, but that’s the prudent thing to do on your first day.”

As a result of the capsize of ORACLE TEAM USA ‘17’ on October 16, the wing sail and hulls of the first AC72 were damaged. Work began immediately, and the build of wing two was accelerated at Core Builders Composites in New Zealand – it arrived to San Francisco on January 8. After long hours by the entire team, the repairs, plus modifications, were completed on schedule.

Oracle Team USA’s repaired 17 returns on the water. San Francisco, 4 February 2013. Photo copyright Guilain Grenier / Oracle Team USA

“It’s exciting because we’re getting back on the water, and it’s also exciting as this is the first day of testing the modifications we’ve made to the boat,” said General Manager Grant Simmer. “This is the beginning of the next stage.”

ORACLE TEAM USA plans to sail the AC72 several days each week. Work also continues on the build of the team’s second AC72.

Oracle Team USA’s repaired 17 returns on the water. San Francisco, 4 February 2013. Photo copyright Guilain Grenier / Oracle Team USA

[Source: Oracle Team USA] The new wing sail for ORACLE TEAM USA arrived to San Francisco on Tuesday afternoon, completing a journey from New Zealand and around the South Bay before pulling into the team base at Pier 80. The wing is the second built by the team and will be fitted into the Defender’s first AC72 to begin sailing again in the coming weeks.

“The guys have done a fantastic job to get the wing built, and it will go together very quickly. You’ll see it out on the water in early February,” said ORACLE TEAM USA skipper Jimmy Spithill. “We’re really excited to get out there again, and from a sailing point of view, sort of reward those who put all of the work in to get the boat ready again.”

The wing was built at Core Builders Composites in Warkworth, New Zealand, and loaded onto a Hamburg Süd ship in Auckland that departed on December 23. The ship arrived to Ports America in Oakland Tuesday morning, January 8, where the wing was loaded onto a truck. With height and weight restrictions on the Bay Bridge, the truck traveled around the South Bay and back north to San Francisco.

Oracle Team USA’s second AC72 wing arrives at the team base. San Francisco, 8 January 2013. Photo copyright Guilain Grenier / Oracle Team USA

“The wing left Core Builders Composites in a good state, even with the compressed timeline to complete it. It’s far more finished, and more details were sorted out,” said ORACLE TEAM USA shore team manager Mark Turner. “We’ve basically got another few weeks of work to get the new wing commissioned. Once that happens, we’ll be in a situation to be able to do load tests.

“We’ve made all of the repairs to the platform, and over the next few weeks we’re reassembling the platform and finishing off some modifications,” Turner said. “We got to where we needed to before Christmas, which was a big effort by the guys, and I’m confident we’ll be ready to go sailing again in February.”

The timeline on the completion of the new wing was pushed up as a result of the capsize of ORACLE TEAM USA ‘17’ in October. The wing will be assembled and fitted into the repaired boat. Remaining repair work includes installing systems and painting, which will involve a 24-hour work schedule.

“To see this turn up inside the shed is a big psychological boost for the whole team,” Spithill said, as the entire team is anxious for the AC72 to return to the water. “Any day that looks good for sailing, we’ll be out there, capitalizing and really trying to put some hours on this wing and the boat.”

Oracle Team USA’s second AC72 wing arrives at the team base. San Francisco, 8 January 2013. Photo copyright Guilain Grenier / Oracle Team USA

MEDIA NOTE

Oracle Team USA updates on AC72 repairs and launch schedule

The 34th America’s Cup Defender publishes a very interesting video, showing how events unfolded the day of the unfortunate capsize of the team’s AC72 yacht:

Short but very interesting video of the first efforts to rescue Oracle Team USA’s AC72 yacht after her capsize. It’s interesting to watch how the wing collapses under the weight of platform. Tough times for the Defender of the 34th America’s Cup but this incident shouldn’t come as a surprise.

[Source: ORacle Team USA] ORACLE TEAM USA 17 – the team’s AC72 racing yacht – capsized during training at approximately 3 pm PT today on San Francisco Bay. All crew and ORACLE TEAM USA team members are safe. It was the boat’s eighth day on the water since the launch in August.

Said tactician Tom Slingsby of the capsize:

“We called for a bear-away as we were out training. The winds were blowing about 25 knots, and there was strong ebb current at the time. We started the bear-away, and as the boat accelerated it pitch-poled.

“We didn’t know what was going to happen with the new boat. When the nose went down, the wing hit and a few guys went in the water. We were unsure if the wing would snap, so we all climbed off the boat.

“Luckily, everyone is accounted for and no one was hurt. The wing is pretty badly damaged, and we are working to get the boat back in position to return to Pier 80.”

The crew and boat will return to the team base at Pier 80 in San Francisco and assess the situation further. Additional details and images to follow.

The Oracle Team USA AC72 yacht capsizes. San Francisco, 16 October 2012. Photo copyright Tom Powrie

The Oracle Team USA AC72 yacht capsizes. San Francisco, 16 October 2012. Photo copyright Chris Ray