Oracle Team USA

{{Short description|American sailboat racing syndicate}} {{Infobox America's Cup team | shortname = Oracle Team USA | club = {{yachtclub|Golden Gate Yacht Club}} | nat = {{USA}} | owner = [[Larry Ellison]] | ceo = [[Russell Coutts]] | skip = [[James Spithill]] | year = 2000 | wins = [[2010 America's Cup]]<br>[[2013 America's Cup]] | sailno1 = USA–71 | boats1 = ''USA 71'' | sailno2 = USA–76 | boats2 = ''[[USA 76]]'' | sailno3 = USA–87 | boats3 = ''[[USA 87]]'' | sailno4 = USA–98 | boats4 = ''[[USA 98]]'' | sailno5 = USA–17 | boats5 = ''[[USA 17 (yacht)|USA 17]]'' }} [[File:AC 72 Team Oracle boats photo D Ramey Logan.jpg|thumb|300px|Team Oracle AC 72 boats]] '''Oracle Team USA''' is an American [[yacht racing]] syndicate initially formed to compete for the 2003 [[America's Cup]]. They competed again in the 2007 event before winning the [[33rd America's Cup]] regatta in 2010 – representing the [[Golden Gate Yacht Club]]. The team also won the [[2013 America's Cup|34th America's Cup]] in 2013.

The syndicate was initially named ''Oracle'' for the 2003 campaign and backed primarily by [[Larry Ellison]], the co-founder and [[CEO]] of [[Oracle Corporation]], but was renamed in August 2004 to ''Oracle [[BMW]] Racing'' to reflect the [[Germany|German]] company's role, and subsequently revised again to ''BMW Oracle Racing'' to reflect increased involvement from ''BMW''. At the end of December 2010 it was announced that by mutual agreement of both partners, BMW was bringing to a close its longstanding partnership with Oracle Racing and thereby ending its involvement in the America's Cup.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.charterworld.com/news/americas-cup-bmw-ends-partnership-oracle-racing |title = America's Cup: BMW ends partnership with Oracle Racing |publisher = Charterworld | date= 2010-12-24 | access-date = 2012-12-28}}</ref> Subsequently, the syndicate was renamed to ''Oracle Team USA'' to compete for the 2013 34th America's Cup.

==History== ===31st America's Cup (2003)=== {{main|2003 America's Cup}} The team was created by purchasing the assets of [[Paul Cayard]]’s AmericaOne syndicate which was the losing finalist against [[Luna Rossa Challenge|Luna Rossa]] in the 2000 [[Louis Vuitton Cup]]. The syndicate got off to a rocky start with changes in the skipper position, alternating between Cayard and [[Chris Dickson (sailor)|Chris Dickson]], to Dickson alone, to [[Peter Holmberg]], and then back to Dickson. Bob Wylie was a key member of the 2003 team contributing mainly to the tactics.{{Citation needed|reason=I haven't found references confirming this claim.|date=May 2021}} Oracle reached the finals of the [[2003 Louis Vuitton Cup]], losing to [[Alinghi]] 5–1.

===32nd America's Cup (2007)=== {{main|2007 America’s Cup}} [[BMW Oracle Racing]] through the GGYC was the Challenger-of-Record for the [[2007 America's Cup]] which was held in [[Valencia]], Spain. BMW Oracle Racing, lost to Luna Rossa Challenge 5 to 1 in the [[2007 Louis Vuitton Cup]] Semi Finals.

===33rd America's Cup (2010)=== {{main|33rd America's Cup}}

Larry Ellison hired [[Russell Coutts]] to be the CEO of the [[33rd America's Cup]] campaign. In July 2007, the [[Golden Gate Yacht Club]], sponsoring BMW Oracle Racing, filed a challenge with the [[Société Nautique de Genève]] for the [[America's Cup (33rd edition)|33rd America's Cup]] stating that they did not believe that SNG's hand picked challenger, Club Náutico Español de Vela (CNEV) was a qualified club under the [[Deed of Gift of the America's Cup|Deed of Gift]].

After extensive court action, [[Golden Gate Yacht Club]] was declared Challenger of Record and sailed against SNG's team: Alinghi, in February 2010 in [[Valencia]], Spain.<ref name="scuttlebutt">{{cite web|url=http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/news/07/cf/ |title=Scuttlebutt News: Cory E. Friedman – 33rd America's Cup |publisher=Sailingscuttlebutt.com |access-date=28 December 2012| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100209140158/http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/news/07/cf/| archive-date= 9 February 2010 | url-status= live}}</ref><ref name="NYCOA20090402">{{Cite court |litigants = Golden Gate Yacht Club v. Societe Nautique De Geneve |court = New York Court of Appeals |date = 2 April 2009 |url=https://caselaw.findlaw.com/ny-court-of-appeals/1418851.html |access-date=28 December 2012 }}</ref> The competing boats, ''[[Alinghi 5]]'' and ''[[USA 17 (yacht)|USA 17]]'' were both 90-foot multihulls.

BMW Oracle Racing won the America's Cup on February 14, 2010, off Valencia, Spain, beating ''Alinghi'' 2–0 in the best-of-three series and becoming the first American syndicate to win the cup since 1992.<ref>{{cite news |title=USA Win 33rd America's Cup Match |newspaper= SAIL! × BULKHEAD magazine |date=February 14, 2010 |url=http://www.sailmagazine.jp/files/tag-america2019s-cup.html}}</ref> The [[Sail#Types|rigid wing sail]] of ''USA 17'' provided a decisive advantage and Golden Gate Yacht Club won the [[2010 America's Cup]] by a considerable margin.

===2011–13 America's Cup World Series=== Oracle Team USA competed in the [[2011–13 America's Cup World Series]]. In August 2013, the competition jury received a report from Oracle Team USA that their boat and others they had loaned had unauthorized modifications.<ref>Gavin Clarke, [https://www.theregister.com/2013/08/12/larry_ellison_boat_mods/ Oracle Team USA sailors admit breaking America's Cup rules], The Register, 12 Aug 2013. Retrieved 30th July 2016.</ref> The team withdrew from the competition on 8 August 2013.<ref>America's Cup Jury, [https://web.archive.org/web/20130902234520/http://noticeboard.americascup.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/JN096.pdf Jury Notice JN096], 8th August 2013</ref> Penalties imposed included expelling three team members,<ref>{{cite web|title=JURY CASE AC31, JURY NOTICE JN116, Allegation of Gross Misconduct, DECISION and PARTIAL LIFTING OF THE CONFIDENTIALITY ORDER|url=http://noticeboard.americascup.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/JN116.pdf#page=15|publisher=Americas Cup Jury|access-date=27 September 2013|date=2013-09-03|quote=DECISIONS ON PENALTIES{{br}} 105. Bryce Ruthenberg is excluded from further participation in any role in the 34th America’s Cup.…{{br}} 106. Andrew Walker is excluded from further participation in any role in the 34th America’s Cup.…{{br}} 108. Matt Mitchell is excluded from sailing on a Yacht competing in the Match for the 34th America’s Cup until 4 races have been completed.…{{br}} 109. Dirk de Ridder is excluded from further participation in any role in the 34th America’s Cup.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131007220231/http://noticeboard.americascup.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/JN116.pdf#page=15|archive-date=7 October 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> a $250,000 fine, and a one-point penalty for each of the first two races of the Match in which they would otherwise score a point.<ref>"[http://static.stuff.co.nz/files/cupdecision2.pdf Jury Notice JN117]", 3 September 2013,</ref>

===34th America's Cup (2013)=== {{main|2013 America's Cup}} Oracle Team USA's Larry Ellison declared that the 34th America's Cup would be sailed on [[AC72]] class [[Wingsail|wing-sail]] [[catamarans]].

Oracle Team USA experienced the first major accident involving the new AC72 class, when the boat capsized during training off [[San Francisco]] on October 16, 2012.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.wired.com/2013/05/americas-cup-boat-crash/ |title=The Boat That Could Sink the America's Cup |first=Adam |last=Fisher |publisher=[[Wired (website)|Wired]] |date=May 9, 2013 |access-date=August 14, 2013}}</ref>

Oracle Team USA successfully defended the trophy and won the 2013 America's Cup on September 25, 2013. They accomplished this achievement by coming back from 7 points down and one point away from defeat in the series, and completing the largest in-series comeback in America's Cup history.<ref>{{cite web|title=Live Analysis: America's Cup, Oracle USA vs. Emirates New Zealand| date=25 September 2013 |url=http://sports.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/09/25/live-analysis-americas-cup-oracle-usa-vs-emirates-new-zealand/?hp=&emc=edit_na_20130925&_r=0|publisher=NY Times|access-date=25 September 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url =http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/oracle-team-usa-completes-historic-america-cup-comeback-article-1.1467496|title=Oracle Team USA completes greatest comeback in America's Cup history, defeating Emirates New Zealand|date=25 September 2013|work=New York Daily News|access-date=26 September 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/sailing/americas-cup-ben-ainslie-leads-oracle-team-usa-to-remarkable-98-victory-over-emirates-team-new-zealand-8839892.html|title=Ben Ainslie leads Oracle Team USA to remarkable 9–8 victory over Emirates Team New Zealand|date=25 September 2013|work=The Independent|access-date=26 September 2013}}</ref> ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]'' later called it "one of the greatest comebacks in sports history".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303393804579312803907849782|title=Against the Wind|author=Stu Woo|publisher=The Wall Street Journal|date=February 28, 2014|access-date=March 12, 2014}}</ref>

===2015–16 America's Cup World Series=== Oracle Team USA was runner up in [[2015–16 America's Cup World Series]].<ref>[http://www.sailingworld.com/land-rover-bar-wins-americas-cup-world-series Land Rover BAR Wins America's Cup World Series], Sailing World, 21st Nov 2016</ref>

===35th America's Cup (2017)=== Oracle Team USA was the defender of the [[35th America's Cup]]. The event took place in the Great Sound of Bermuda in 2017, with challenger selection through the [[2017 Louis Vuitton Cup]] on June 5–25. The finals against [[Team New Zealand|Emirates Team New Zealand]] were June 17–26. The new [[AC50]] class rule governed the races; Oracle Team USA launched their yacht in February 2017. Oracle Team USA ultimately lost the challenge 7–1 to Emirates Team New Zealand.

===36th America's Cup (2021)=== Oracle Team USA did not issue a challenge within the initial challenging deadline for the 36th America’s Cup presented by Prada, June 30, 2018, ending Oracle's fifteen year presence in the Cup races.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Rossa |first1=Luna |title=ENTRIES REMAIN OPEN WHILE INITIAL 36th AMERICA'S CUP, RNZYS CONFIRMS CHALLENGERS ACCEPTED – Luna Rossa |url=http://lunarossa-challenge.americascup.com/en/news/261_ENTRIES-REMAIN-OPEN-WHILE-INITIAL-36th-AMERICA-S-CUP-RNZYS-CONFIRMS-CHALLENGERS-ACCEPTED |website=lunarossa-challenge.americascup.com |access-date=12 July 2018 |language=en}}</ref> Oracle Team USA skipper '''James Spithill''' previously indicated he was returning to challenging team '''Luna Rossa''' for that competition.<ref>{{cite web |title=Jimmy Spithill linked to America's Cup return with Italian syndicate Luna Rossa |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/other-sports/102175377/jimmy-spithill-linked-to-americas-cup-return-with-italian-syndicate-luna-rossa |website=Stuff |date=11 March 2018 |access-date=12 July 2018 |language=en}}</ref>

==Boats== [[Image:USA-17-flying-cropped.jpg|thumb|right|upright|BMW Oracle's ''USA-17'' training off Valencia, Spain in late January, 2010]] The BMW Oracle/Oracle USA team has owned a number of boats, including: * ''[[List of IACC yachts|USA 71]]'', trial boat for the 2003 America’s Cup. * ''[[USA 76 (America’s Cup Class)|USA 76]]'', race boat for the [[2003 America’s Cup]]. * ''[[USA 87 (America’s Cup Class)|USA 87]]'', used in preparations for the 2007 Louis Vuitton Cup. * ''[[List of IACC yachts|USA 98]]'', raced in the [[Louis Vuitton Cup 2007]] campaign. * ''[[USA 17 (yacht)|USA 17]]'', trimaran. Sailing with a rigid wing sail, she won the [[2010 America's Cup]], in a [[Deed of Gift of the America's Cup|Deed of Gift]] match against SNG/Alinghi Valencia. * ''17'', an [[AC72]] catamaran for the 2013 America's Cup defence. Extensively damaged in a 16 October 2012 capsize. * ''[[Oracle Team USA 17]]'', an AC72 [[catamaran]]. Successfully defended in the [[2013 America's Cup]]. * ''17'',<ref>{{cite web|title=Lucky 17|url=https://www.americascup.com/en/news/2540_Lucky-17.html|website=America's Cup|access-date=29 June 2017}}</ref> [[AC50]] [[Wingsail|wing sail]] [[catamaran]]. Unsuccessfully defended the [[2017 America's Cup]].

==Miscellaneous== The team also appeared on the [[Top Gear (series 20)|Series 20]] premiere of ''[[Top Gear (2002 TV series)|Top Gear]]'', emerging victorious in what was called by some a ''Cat Vs. Car'' race. Set in New Zealand, it matched Oracle in its AC45 with [[James May]] as a passenger against [[Jeremy Clarkson]] in a rented [[Toyota Corolla]] or [[Toyota Auris]] from the northern tip of the [[Coromandel Peninsula]] to the northern tip of New Zealand's [[North Island]].

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== {{Commons category|BMW Oracle Racing}} *[http://www.oracleracing.com/ Oracle Racing] *[http://www.ggyc.com Golden Gate Yacht Club]

[[Category:American organizations established in 2000]] [[Category:Oracle Team USA]] [[Category:Larry Ellison]]