Aussie Jimmy Spithill named helmsman for BMW Oracle Racing’s America’s Cup trimaran

Spithill named helmsman for BMW Oracle Racing

SAN DIEGO — America’s Cup challenger BMW Oracle Racing has named Australian Jimmy Spithill as helmsman for its showdown with defending champion Alinghi of Switzerland in February.

BMW Oracle Racing skipper and CEO Russell Coutts made the announcement Tuesday.

Spithill will be sailing in his fourth America’s Cup.

The 30-year-old Spithill sailed with Young Australia in 1999-2000, when he was the youngest skipper in America’s Cup history. He also sailed for American syndicate OneWorld in 2002-2003 and Italy’s Luna Rossa in 2007.

Coutts, one of the most dominant skippers in America’s Cup history, said he’s not sure how often he’ll sail aboard BMW Oracle Racing’s 90-foot trimaran during the best-of-3 series. The series begins Feb. 8 in Ras al-Khaimah, United Arab Emirates.