Jimmy Spithill in his own words: champion sailor’s autobiography available now
In the highly anticipated, no-holds-barred book “Chasing the Cup: My America’s Cup Journey,” two-time America’s Cup winner Jimmy Spithill reveals the challenges and innate determination that have made him a sailing legend and an inspirational figure worldwide.
One of the world’s most decorated sailboat racing skippers, Spithill pulls no punches in describing both the struggles and joys of his life. From a childhood surgeon’s pronouncement that he would never be any good at sports to becoming the youngest skipper to win the America’s Cup (30 years old in 2010), he describes it all, including the 2013 Cup campaign where he launched the mother of all comebacks. Along the way Spithill shares what it feels like to be a blue-collar kid among the “silver spooners” of big-league racing, to spend terrifying hours in ocean storms, to endure a devastating capsize, and to lead teams to glory. With sharp analysis as well as humility, he’s also candid about losing the 2017 America’s Cup in Bermuda against New Zealand’s innovative pedal-powered boats; and about whether the experience marked the end of his career or another milestone on the journey.
“It seemed like an interesting time to potentially learn about this last America’s Cup, to think through the details. And also to look back at my life, growing up and getting to where I am, including some of the lessons learned and things I’ve been through,” Spithill says. “I think a lot of people will be surprised – and shocked – at some of the stories and revelations. I also hope it helps people see that anything really is possible if you’re willing to put in the hard work and sacrifice.”
Benevento Publishing partnered with Bloomsbury Publishing for the worldwide English language release of Spithill’s autobiography. Telling his story for the first time, in “Chasing the Cup” Spithill takes readers deep inside the America’s Cup and offers remarkable and timely insights into the mind of a man at the pinnacle of his sport.
While Spithill opens up about all the details that fascinate sailing fans – from competitive strategies and technologies to the important personalities on the boats and behind the scenes – “Chasing the Cup” is more than a sailing story. This is a book for anyone interested in sport, teamwork, beating the odds and standing tall not only in triumph, but in defeat. And living life to the fullest.
About Jimmy Spithill
Australia-born Jimmy Spithill is, at only 38, a multiple world champion in fleet and match racing, a two-time winner of the America’s Cup and one of the most famous sailors in the sport. A blue-collar upstart in the sailing world, Spithill debuted in the America’s Cup as a skipper at age 20. He sailed in the next two Cups before becoming – in 2010 at 30 years old – the youngest skipper ever to win the “Auld Mug” at the helm of the most extreme yacht the competition had ever seen: the 90-foot-long by 90-foot-wide trimaran USA 17. In San Francisco in 2013, Spithill captured the Cup again in what the Wall Street Journal called “one of the greatest comebacks in sports history”: just one race away from losing the match, he rallied ORACLE TEAM USA for eight consecutive wins to defeat Emirates Team New Zealand 9-8. In 2017 the story ended differently and, in “Chasing the Cup,” Spithill tells us why.
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Contact: Mario Schoby / +436646385997 / mario.schoby@3mpg.ch
Jimmy Spithill’s “Chasing the Cup: My America’s Cup Journey” is available now at retailers and online in hardcover and Kindle editions at Amazon.
SELECT CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
28 June 1979: James Spithill is born in Sydney, Australia, and he subsequently spends much of his childhood in Pittwater, NSW, which is accessible only by boat
1988: 9-year-old Spithill gets his first boat – off a trash heap
1989: At 10, wins the first sailboat race he has ever entered, with his sister Katie
1997: Captains his school team to the Australian High School Sailing Championship with a broken wrist; wins New South Wales Youth Yachtsman of the Year Award
1998: Helps Ragamuffin to a third-place finish in a storm-ravaged Sydney to Hobart Race; wins Kenwood Cup
1999: Competes in his first Grade 1 Match Racing event (Centro Cup), finishing sixth; third place in Sydney to Hobart race
2000: Makes America’s Cup debut with Young Australia at age 20, the youngest helmsman in the history of the regatta
2003: Helms OneWorld in the America’s Cup; wins Nations Cup; second place in Match Racing World Championship
2004: Wins Nations Cup
2005: Wins Match Racing World Championship, wins Melges 24 World Championship and every Grade 1 event he enters
2007: In America’s Cup, helms Luna Rossa to the Louis Vuitton Cup Finals
2010: As skipper, helms the USA 17 trimaran to become the youngest skipper to win the America’s Cup; wins RC44 World Championship
2013: Successfully defends the America’s Cup as skipper/helmsman of ORACLE TEAM USA, executing one of history’s greatest sporting comebacks
2014: Named World Sailor of the Year; wins Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez – Modern Boat Class; second place in Melges 32 US National Championship
2015: Wins the Sydney to Hobart Race as a member of the Comanche crew
2017: Helms ORACLE TEAM USA to the Finals of the America’s Cup; wins Men’s SUP Devil’s Isle Challenge