When the Oracle Racing team won the 33rd America's Cup yacht race in February 2010 over Swiss defender Alinghi, team owner Larry Ellison, who just happens to be one of the richest software executives in the world, ranked the experience as one of the greatest in his life.
To win the prestigious title, the team sailed the USA 17, a 90-foot by 90-foot trimaran with a 223-foot tall wingsail dubbed the fastest boat in the history of the event. Now, Ellison's Oracle Racing team is gearing up to defend its trophy in the 34th America's Cup in San Francisco during the summer of 2013. Equipped with a new boat—the AC72, as well as sophisticated instrument systems and GPS devices, members of the team are hoping to keep the trophy in San Francisco.
John Kostecki, aka "JK," who leads the Oracle Racing team as tactician, has won 10 world championship titles in sailing. PCMag chatted this week with Kostecki about his extensive sailing career and the technology behind America's Cup.
PCMag: You're an America's Cup winner and Olympic silver medalist. You have an extensive sailing background, what are some of the coolest places you have competed?
Kostecki: That's a good question. I have basically been around the world and actually recently got back from Sydney, Australia competing. I really enjoy going down to the southern hemisphere during our winter and getting a little summertime action, so that was great. I also enjoy sailing in Sardinia, where there is excellent weather and good, strong, consistent winds. It's just a beautiful place.
PCMag: For those of us who are new to the competitive sailing landscape, could you tell us about the various positions on the team and about your role as tactician.
Kostecki: With the new AC72, there are only 11 people on board and so there will be 11 people doing many different jobs. In past America's Cups there have been up to 17 people on board the boat, and then you would have specific roles. Not only am I going to be a tactician on board but I will also be doing a lot of grinding and pulling ropes. Everybody on board, including the helmsman [the person who steers the boat], will be doing various jobs on board.
PCMag: What does a tactician do specifically?
Kostecki: Tactician helps the helmsman guide the boat on the racetrack to the favorable wind and current and help maneuver the boat against your competitor.
PCMag: To build excitement for the main event, America's Cup debuted the AC World Series, a regular circuit of regattas around the world. The next U.S. stop is Newport, RI this June and July followed by San Francisco in August and September. Being from San Francisco, do you think that gives you a leg up when you compete there?
Kostecki: Absolutely. I feel quite comfortable racing on San Francisco Bay. I have been sailing there all my life and I feel like I know it pretty well. Not many of our competitors have sailed much on San Frincisco Bay so I hope we have an advantage there.
PCMag: What is it about America's Cup that sets it apart from other sailing competitions?
Kostecki: America's Cup is the premier event in our sport, by far. The America's Cup trophy is the oldest sporting trophy in the world; it's 160 years old. It's a very prestigious event and everyone wants to race in the America's Cup.
PCMag: Could you describe for us the boat you'll be using for the upcoming race.
Kostecki: The AC72—it's a 72 foot catamaran with a 130 foot-tall wing sail. It's an incredibly light and powerful boat that is going to have boat speeds up to 40 miles per hour. Basically, when we are sailing on San Francisco Bay we are going to be going as fast as the cars going across the Golden Gate Bridge.
PCMag: Is this boat going to be brand new?
Kostecki: Yes, we are currently designing and building our first AC72, and we will be building two of these boats for the upcoming America's Cup in September 2013.
PCMag: What are some of the technologies you use on the boat that help you with the race?
Kostecki: That's a good question. We use very sophisticated instrument systems, but with the short races these days, we won't be using them too much. We'll mostly be using the instrument system for our starting. Getting a good start is going to be quite important. We are doing reaching starts now, so you are hitting the starting line at top speed. We will be using our GPS system to help us know exactly where the starting line is. We'll also be using a software program to help us figure out exactly where on the line is closest to the next buoy and fastest angle to the next buoy. Hopefully, that will help us get off to a great start, and be first around the first mark because when you're leading a race like that it's hard to be passed.
PCMag: How has the technology on the boats evolved during the course of your career?
Kostecki: Everything has evolved. When I started sailing we didn't even use GPS so that's been a big change. Everything is getting more refined, with better software. Our design team is using different software to evolve and build the boats. We are also using high-tech materials in the construction of the boats. The boats are made of carbon fiber and incredibly light.
PCMag: Can you tell me more about LiveLine, which race umpires will use to help them officiate the close races?
Kostecki: LiveLine was developed by Stan Honey and his team. He is the man who developed the yellow line in NFL football to determine where you get your first down. Similar lines will be superimposed on your TV screen, or computer screen while you are watching a yacht race. It will help you see who is ahead and behind and how far, and it also takes into account the wind shifts and shows that. Somebody who doesn't know anything about sailing will really be able to understand who is winning the race and who is behind.
As far as the judging and umpiring of the race, it's a combination of this LiveLine and super-accurate GPS. Instead of being out on the water watching these races, the umpires are using the LiveLine technology to judge the races and determine when the boats become close. They have such accurate technology that they are going to be able to rule from a booth on shore. We are using that technology already in the AC45 boats that we are using in the AC World Series events.
PCMag: The Oracle racing team won the Americas Cup in 2010, does that give you more pressure to win next time around?
Kostecki: Absolutely. We are in this game to win. For me, I really want to keep the America's Cup in San Francisco in my home waters. For sure, we are the ones to beat, we are the defenders. The challengers are racing in the Louis Vuitton Series in July and August of 2013 and the winner of that we go up against, and we are out to win.
Interview edited for length.