Jimmy boxes with fast hands, serves a fast ball in tennis, needs horsepower under his right foot and, on a race boat, likes to “send it.” Jimmy is the America's Cup's youngest-ever winning skipper. Going fast is what he does.
When James Spithill debuted on the America's Cup in 1999 scene as a fresh-faced 19-year-old many believed he would one day win the America's Cup.
He did on Feb. 14, 2010, at the helm of the most extreme yacht the competition has ever seen; the 90-foot long by 90-foot wide trimaran USA 17. In winning the 33rd America’s Cup as skipper of ORACLE Racing at the age of 30, he became the youngest skipper to ever win the revered trophy.
Spithill was also was the youngest to ever helm an America’s Cup yacht when he skippered Young Australia in the 1999-2000 Louis Vuitton Cup challenger series in New Zealand.
Twice he’s been named the Australian Male Yachtsman of the Year (2005-06 and 2009-10). Upon accepting the award a second time Spithill said,
"This might be an individual award, but there’s no way I could’ve achieved what I have without the help of ORACLE Racing team and my family. It was an incredible feeling to pull it all together and pull off the America’s Cup victory."
