The saying goes, "He who dies with the most toys wins." Oracle CEO Larry Ellison has some new toys that are hard to miss: his 75-foot America's Cup racing yachts.
Over the weekend, Ellison drove USA-49 to victory in the Il Moro Trophy Regatta in Sausalito, California. USA-49, the former AmericaOne yacht that raced in the 2000 America's Cup in Auckland, New Zealand, is part of a fleet of restored vintage America's Cup yachts, known as the International America's Cup Class (IACCSF), which have just finished competing in regattas throughout the San Francisco Bay this summer.
Sailing on the bay means facing unpredictable wind, rough water, frigid temperatures and foggy weather. But for Ellison, the harsh Bay Area sailing conditions probably pale in comparison to some stormy times he's faced recently at the helm of Oracle.
While the media has portrayed him as just a rich boat owner, Ellison's sailing record has proven that he has the skills of a respected sailor. His sailing resume includes being a consistent winner of the IACCSF races, sailing his yacht Sayonara into first place in five Maxi World Championships -- the cream of the crop in elite yacht racing -- and crossing the finish line first in the tragic 1998 Sydney to Hobart race that claimed six lives.
"Larry competes to win," said David Thomson, captain of IACCSF yacht NZL-20. "He has a simple focus, and that is winning. And I have never seen that focus diluted."
Ellison is about to take on a new challenge, crossing the line from sailing vintage America's Cup yachts and Maxi boats to seeking the ultimate prize: the America's Cup. With two sleek new racing yachts, USA-71 and USA-76, Ellison has put together Oracle Racing, consisting of some of the world's best sailors, boat designers, engineers and shore crew, with the hope of bringing the America's Cup home to the Bay Area.
Will Ellison follow in the footsteps of media mogul Ted Turner, who won the America's Cup in 1977 as skipper of Courageous? Time will tell.
"Ellison is running (Oracle Racing) and has hired some great sailors to run the America's Cup boat," said Dawn Riley, head of the Bay Area 2000 America's Cup syndicate, AmericaTrue. "When you are racing a boat there is a leader, but there are also 16 people on the boat, and one person can lose the race. It takes a whole team to win."
Oracle Racing is favored as the United States' best hope to challenge Team New Zealand in the 2003 America's Cup, which takes place in Auckland, New Zealand, from Feb. 15 through March 1.
"Larry has done great on the Maxi circuit, but we have not seen him perform in any other venue," ESPN sailing analyst Gary Jobson said. "He has good management and ample budget. They have a good shot at becoming the challenger."
While Ellison may be in the spotlight while behind the wheel, he tends to shy away from social gatherings after the regattas. Although he's elusive (he declined interview requests), sailors still clamor to be a part of his winning crew.
John Sweeney, a crewmember for Oracle Racing, said, "When (Larry's) on board, our whole team raises its game. He expects the best, and we know that he has trusted us to help him win. When you have sailed for Larry, you become part of the fraternity. It's a great experience and one that most would not pass on."
