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Charlotte Amalie
Thursday, March 28, 2024
HomeNewsArchivesPETER HOLMBERG SIGNS WITH ORACLE RACING

PETER HOLMBERG SIGNS WITH ORACLE RACING

The territory will again have a representative in the world's premier sailing event as V.I. professional sailor Peter Holmberg has joined software billionaire Larry Ellison's Oracle Racing team for the next America's Cup.
Holmberg won an Olympic silver metal in 1988 sailing for the Virgin Islands and is the second highest ranked American in the International Sailing Federation's Match Racing ranking. He sailed in the America's Cup 2000 as a member of Team Dennis Conner after his Virgin Islands Cup Challenge fell short of fielding an entry. Dennis Conner is the only man to both win and lose the America's Cup twice.
Holmberg explains, "It was a tough decision not to go back with Dennis Conner because they did treat me well and are a great group to work with. But the next Cup is going to be a more intense event than the last one, with a lot more fully prepared teams, and it will take a fully developed package to win. Oracle has an 80 million dollar budget, the Bruce Farr design office, a great group of sailors, and a belief that the best sailing team will ultimately win the Cup. I decided it was the better program for me."
Ellison's usual sailing program involves racing his maxi yacht Sayonara at events around the world including winning the 2000 Antigua Sailing Week. Top sailor Chris Dickson is already Ellison's skipper for Sayonara.
Ellison purchased the two America's Cup boats of Aloha racing, before striking a deal with Paul Cayard and the AmericaOne team. Cayard and AmericaOne fell just one race short of challenging for the America's Cup. Ellison's deal with Cayard included the team's boats, the existing shore base in New Zealand and contracts with Cayard and some of the AmericaOne management personnel. According to a story in Quokka Sports, keeping the momentum of the AmericaOne effort going was a key part of the decision by Ellison. Although Cayard was the skipper during the AmericaOne challenge, the contract with Cayard labels his position as Campaign Manager. Contracts with former America True helmsman John Cutler as Sailing Team Manager and Tomasso Chieffi, Italian helmsman and America's Cup tactician were in place before signing Holmberg.
The addition of Holmberg to the team gives Oracle Racing three experienced America's Cup helmsmen and two Cup tacticians, enough talent to fill the 'back of the boat' positions on two creditable America's Cup campaigns. When asked how this would work out Holmberg explained, "Chris Dickson is the skipper of the team. Cutler, Cayard, Cheiffi, and I are after guard and alternate drivers. The heart of the campaign is to do lots of sailing, so all of us will take turns driving the B boat and doing tactics. This will keep the training fresh and help learn various styles. In the end we'll see what the best combination on board is and take that team to the Cup."
With all the pieces and people in place, Oracle is already practicing in New Zealand as Holmberg reports, "I signed my deal in late October and had two weeks to pack up in time to start the first training sessions. The Oracle campaign is focused on lots of training, the plan is to train here for the New Zealand summer (November to February), then ship everything to Long Beach, Calif. and train there in their consistent good winds (April-September), then ship back here for summer, and maybe stay for that final year and train here through the winter."
Holmberg arrived in time to be out practicing November 22, when the keel snapped off of USA 61 being helmed by Dickson. Holmberg said, "It was absolutely wild. Probably a once in a lifetime sight . . . looking over and seeing an 80-foot yacht just slowly capsizing onto its side, and then laying there with crew scampering to get on the top of the hull. We were sailing along, 20-25 knot winds and big seas, rough stuff in these boats. Great testing day so we had wandered offshore 20 miles or so. (Tests consist of lining up for ten minute segments to isolate and test various things) Just lining up for a test and snap, over she rolled." No one was injured and the crew, with help and pumps from the team tender, kept the boat from sinking.
Not all of the training would be in the America's Cup class boats. Holmberg will still get out on the international match racing circuit as well. "We will put several Oracle teams on the circuit to keep us all learning, sharpening our skills, and getting a much needed break from the training. This is really what attracted me to this team," said Holmberg.
The project will be keeping Holmberg away from the Virgin Islands, "Although I will miss the Virgin Islands and will only be able to visit during breaks over the next two years, it's an incredible opportunity to work with such a talented group on such a major endeavor. My partner Denise (Balzac) is with me throughout the trip and we really love New Zealand and its people, so this is another great opportunity to experience a nice part of the world. Hello to all our friends and we hope you'll come down to visit us and see this incredible event."

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