BMW Oracle helmsman Jimmy Spithill leads USA boat to 1-0 lead over Alinghi in America’s Cup

Spithill wins 1st helmsman duel in America’s Cup

VALENCIA, Spain — BMW Oracle helmsman Jimmy Spithill showed why he is regarded as one of the world’s best match-racers in leading the USA trimaran to a 1-0 lead over Alinghi in the America’s Cup on Friday.

Spithill entered on the favored starboard tack and steered straight at counterpart Ernesto Bertarelli’s Alinghi 5, forcing the Swiss billionaire to commit a penalty.

The American challenger then stalled to allow Alinghi 5 to move ahead off the starting line. But the trimaran’s cutting-edge wing sail allowed it to turn a 2,165-foot deficit into a victory by 15 minutes, 28 seconds off the coast of Valencia.

“This was one of the hardest days I’ve had on the boat with the pressure and direction changes,” Spithill said. “But all in all it was a good day. I’m sure there are some improvements we can make, but obviously it was great.”

BMW Oracle can become the first American winner of the 159-year-old sailing classic since 1992 with a victory on Sunday in the best-of-3 series.

The aggressive attack before the start wasn’t expected between the 90-by-90-foot boats that carry masts as high as 20-story buildings and which can reach speeds of three times the wind.

Alinghi was supposed to be faster in the lighter wind conditions, but USA’s speed was apparent from the start as the two giant boats came crashing toward each other at the start.

“We tried to get across them but couldn’t,” Alinghi skipper Brad Butterworth said. “When we realized that was the case, we came up and tacked over and got a penalty. That was a bit surprising, but it didn’t have an impact on the race in the end.”

BMW Oracle president Larry Ellison had to watch the great start from a chase boat since the American team used a minimal crew with light wind to start.

“It’s always more stressful to watch … than to sail,” Ellison said. “We watched Jimmy get that penalty — ‘good on you Jimmy’.”

Spithill’s early move forced a penalty as the Swiss team blocked USA’s path, but the Australian helmsman somehow stalled the trimaran to enable Bertarelli to steer Alinghi 5 around the marker and into the lead out of the start.

“(We) had a bit of a fumble and got stuck in the breeze,” Spithill said. “It didn’t turn out the way I wanted it to. But leading up to that, the guys did a great job of putting us in a very powerful position.”

Bertarelli, whose biotech is worth $11.2 billion, was at the helm despite having onboard Frenchman Loick Peyron, one of the world’s most successful multihull sailors. However, it’s unlikely Peyron could have done much to stop the powerful trimaran.

BMW Oracle gained ground immediately once it got going, using its radical wing sail to draw level about a third of the way into the 20-nautical mile leg. USA sailed faster into the wind and, by the time Spithill guided his boat across the line after the downwind leg, the Swiss were nearly 4 2.48 miles back.

“It really took off,” Spithill said of the trimaran. “To get around the race track today without one problem to the boat is a real credit.”

Spithill, who sailed for Italian team Luna Rossa at the last America’s Cup, vindicated the trust bestowed upon him by chief executive Russell Coutts, a three-time winner, who handed the reins over to the Australian.

The special Deed of Gift match is being sailed as a result of the lengthy legal battles that have enveloped the Auld Mug since July 2007, when Alinghi beat Team New Zealand for its second straight trophy.