AC45s @Newport: Coutts back to Helm

by Editor · Published June 5, 2012 · Updated May 24, 2019

Photo right: It seems Coutts didn´t like his position on the boat at Venice…
Press Release — Oracle Team USA will continue its crew rotation for the America’s Cup World Series later this month in Newport, R.I., as Jimmy Spithill pushes to win the 2011-’12 season championship and Russell Coutts returns to helm boat No. 5.

“The rotations are fundamental to our long-term plan of building a really strong in-house racing program to be ready for the 2013 America’s Cup,” said skipper Jimmy Spithill. “Newport will be a fantastic event, and it will be great to see the America’s Cup back in town.”
The changes will see wing trimmer Dirk de Ridder and bowman Piet van Nieuwenhuijzen, who both sailed with Spithill for the first four events, return to Spithill’s boat in Newport where they’ll rejoin tactician John Kostecki and trimmer Joe Newton.

“We’ll be going there to try and wrap up the season,” said Spithill. “That’s been our goal and it’s obviously something we’d like to win. I think fans in Newport will really enjoy the AC45s, and everyone’s genuinely looking forward to it.”

Championship racing at ACWS – Newport is scheduled June 27-July 1. In the season championship, Spithill holds a 4-point lead over Emirates Team New Zealand. Third-placed Artemis Racing of Sweden is 13 points behind.

After having skippered the first two ACWS events last year in Portugal and the UK, Coutts handed the helm to double Olympic medalist Darren Bundock for San Diego, Naples and Venice. Coutts re-joined the crew as tactician in Venice, and now returns to the dual skipper/helmsman role with Bundock resuming his previous coaching role.

While Oracle Team USA Spithill reverts to its original line-up, Oracle Team USA Coutts sees a new face in Matt Mitchell joining Coutts, Kyle Langford (wing trimmer), Simon Daubney (headsail trimmer) and Simeon Tienpont (bow). Another new face, Sam Newton, will alternate with Tienpont during practice racing.

Crew Lists
Oracle Team USA Spithill – Jimmy Spithill (skipper/helmsman) John Kostecki (tactician), Dirk de Ridder (wingsail trimmer), Joe Newton (headsail trimmer), Piet van Nieuwenhuijzen (bowman)
Oracle Team USA Coutts – Russell Coutts (skipper/helmsman), Kyle Langford (wingsail trimmer), Simon Daubney (headsail trimmer), Matt Mitchell (runner), Simeon Tienpont (bowman), Sam Newton (alternate bowman)

2011-12 America’s Cup World Series Overall Standings
Team (Country) Match – Fleet — Total
1. ORACLE TEAM USA SPITHILL (USA) 38 – 46 — 84
2. Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL) 36 – 44 — 80
3. Artemis Racing (SWE) 43 – 28 — 71
4. Energy Team (FRA) 32 – 33 — 65
5. Team Korea (KOR) 30 – 26 — 56
6. ORACLE TEAM USA BUNDOCK (USA) 29 – 24 — 53
7. Luna Rossa Piranha 18 – 16 — 34
8. China Team (CHN) 13 – 15 — 28
9. Green Comm Racing (ESP) 11 – 12 — 23
10. Luna Rossa Swordfish 11 – 10 — 21
(After five of six scheduled events)