With owner Larry Ellison on the helm and team prexy Russell Coutts handling tactics, BWM Oracle Racing took first place in the RC44 Austria Cup Friday, March 30. Tied with Dubai oil tycoon Canadian Chris Bake's Team Aqua with seven wins out of nine, the Ellison/Coutts team defeated Bake in their head-to-head match to take the overall victory. The regatta was sailed on Lake Traunsee. The lake is the deepest and among the most spectacular lake in Austria.
Paul Cayard, skipper for the Russian team Katusha finished third.
BMC Oracle Racing fielded two teams in the regatta, the Ellison/Coutts team, and a team skippered by
Jimmy Spithill, helmsman for the team's America's Cup victory. In the head-to-head match between the two BMC Oracle boats, Ellison/Coutts scored a bragging rights victory. Spithill's team ended the regatta in sixth place.
Russell Coutts said: “This has been a great Series for us and we are very happy. We’ve been practicing well before this regatta, and Larry - who was steering - did a great job. Our match against Team Aqua was key, and both teams knew this. On such short courses the starts are essential and so is crew work. This put a lot of pressure on everyone, but the guys handled it well.”
Paul Cayard said his team was happy with the final outcome. “We didn’t sail that well yesterday but we improved today, which is a good thing. I have enjoyed this match race. This place is just idyllic and the sailing has been great so far.”
The youngest skipper to win the America's Cup, Jimmy Spithill was back sailing a monohull for the first time in two years. Although he said he was a little bit frustrated with the results he says he's happy with the process of sharpening his skills on the RC 44 Tour against some of the tap sailors in the world.
"It was a little disappointing yesterday but on reflection I feel good about it,” he said. “We just have to sharpen up a little bit. The level here is quite high. Of course you want to jump back in at the level you were at when you left, but it's going to take a little bit of time."
Friday finished the Austria Cup competition among professional sailors. The amateur competition starts next week.
