Thursday 24 March 2011

America's Cup: ORACLE Racing Crews Ready to Hone AC45


ORACLE Racing's two AC45s. Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/www.americascup.com

by ORACLE Racing media

ORACLE Racing concluded last week with its first two-boat training session. While the team was running two AC45s – its own and the chartered Mascalzone Latino – for most of the week, Friday was the first day they lined up and dialed-up the intensity. And unpleasant weather added to the atmosphere.

Video: High wind work-out:



ORACLE Racing's two AC45s. Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/www.americascup.com

The two ORACLE Racing-branded AC45s will be prominent this week on the Hauraki Gulf when America’s Cup-style sailing the likes of which it hasn’t seen for eight years returns to the body of water this week with four AC45s expected to conduct training sessions.

The two ORACLE Racing crews will likely see those of Artemis Racing and Emirates Team New Zealand. The teams, rivals down the road, are currently in friendly mode as everyone gives their new machine a whirl.


ORACLE Racing's two AC45s. Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/www.americascup.com

“We’re going to really start grinding away with our sailing,” said ORACLE Racing skipper James Spithill. “We’ve got the two boats going now with other teams out on the water; I think we’ve all be looking forward to this.”

“Everybody’s in it together and we’re all helping each other out,” said team tactician John Kostecki.

Video: ORACLE Racing new AC45:


In other stories below, Kostecki and trimmer Ross Halcrow talk about their first sail aboard the new AC45 wingsailed catamaran; ORACLE Racing unveils its new livery; and a photo-feature records the onboard crew action.

ORACLE Racing
America's Cup