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AC72 Capsize on San Francisco Bay

Oracle Team USA's AC72 _17 _capsized during training on San Francisco Bay on Oct. 16, the team's eighth day of practice. Currents and big breeze pushed the capsized catamaran under the Golden Gate Bridge as the team worked to salvage the boat.
  • Updated: October 18, 2012

Photos by Guilain GRENIER / ORACLE TEAM USA. Click here to watch the capsize and the aftermath.

In a press release from the team, Tactician Tom Slingsby explains the incident: “We called for a bear-away as we were out training. The winds were blowing about 25 knots, and there was strong ebb current at the time. We started the bear-away, and as the boat accelerated it pitch-poled. We didn’t know what was going to happen with the new boat. When the nose went down, the wing hit and a few guys went in the water. We were unsure if the wing would snap, so we all climbed off the boat. Luckily, everyone is accounted for and no one was hurt. The wing is pretty badly damaged, and we are working to get the boat back in position to return to Pier 80.” Guilain GRENIER
17/10/2012 – San Francisco (USA,CA) 34th America’s Cup – ORACLE Team USA AC 72 capsizes during training in San Francisco Bay and is pushed out of the bay by the tide current as the team try to salvage the platform. Guilain GRENIER
17/10/2012 – San Francisco (USA,CA) 34th America’s Cup – ORACLE Team USA AC 72 capsizes during training in San Francisco Bay and is pushed out of the bay by the tide current as the team try to salvage the platform. Guilain GRENIER
17/10/2012 – San Francisco (USA,CA) 34th America’s Cup – ORACLE Team USA AC 72 capsizes during training in San Francisco Bay and is pushed out of the bay by the tide current as the team try to salvage the platform. Guilain GRENIER
17/10/2012 – San Francisco (USA,CA) 34th America’s Cup – ORACLE Team USA AC 72 capsizes during training in San Francisco Bay and is pushed out of the bay by the tide current as the team try to salvage the platform. Guilain GRENIER
17/10/2012 – San Francisco (USA,CA) 34th America’s Cup – ORACLE Team USA AC 72 capsizes during training in San Francisco Bay and is pushed out of the bay by the tide current as the team try to salvage the platform. Guilain GRENIER
17/10/2012 – San Francisco (USA,CA) 34th America’s Cup – ORACLE Team USA AC 72 capsizes during training in San Francisco Bay and is pushed out of the bay by the tide current as the team try to salvage the platform. Guilain GRENIER
17/10/2012 – San Francisco (USA,CA) 34th America’s Cup – ORACLE Team USA AC 72 capsizes during training in San Francisco Bay and is pushed out of the bay by the tide current as the team try to salvage the platform. Guilain GRENIER
17/10/2012 – San Francisco (USA,CA) 34th America’s Cup – ORACLE Team USA AC 72 capsizes during training in San Francisco Bay and is pushed out of the bay by the tide current as the team try to salvage the platform. Guilain GRENIER
17/10/2012 – San Francisco (USA,CA) 34th America’s Cup – ORACLE Team USA AC 72 capsizes during training in San Francisco Bay and is pushed out of the bay by the tide current as the team try to salvage the platform. Guilain GRENIER
17/10/2012 – San Francisco (USA,CA) 34th America’s Cup – ORACLE Team USA AC 72 capsizes during training in San Francisco Bay and is pushed out of the bay by the tide current as the team try to salvage the platform. Guilain GRENIER
17/10/2012 – San Francisco (USA,CA) 34th America’s Cup – ORACLE Team USA AC 72 capsizes during training in San Francisco Bay and is pushed out of the bay by the tide current as the team try to salvage the platform. Guilain GRENIER
17/10/2012 – San Francisco (USA,CA) 34th America’s Cup – ORACLE Team USA AC 72 capsizes during training in San Francisco Bay and is pushed out of the bay by the tide current as the team try to salvage the platform. Guilain GRENIER
17/10/2012 – San Francisco (USA,CA) 34th America’s Cup – ORACLE Team USA AC 72 capsizes during training in San Francisco Bay and is pushed out of the bay by the tide current as the team try to salvage the platform. Guilain GRENIER
17/10/2012 – San Francisco (USA,CA) 34th America’s Cup – ORACLE Team USA AC 72 capsizes during training in San Francisco Bay and is pushed out of the bay by the tide current as the team try to salvage the platform. Guilain GRENIER
AC 72 Sail 8 Capize / SFO Oct Testing Session / ORACLE TEAM USA / San Francisco (USA) / 16-10-2012 Guilain GRENIER
AC 72 Sail 8 Capize / SFO Oct Testing Session / ORACLE TEAM USA / San Francisco (USA) / 16-10-2012 Guilain GRENIER
AC 72 Sail 8 Capize / SFO Oct Testing Session / ORACLE TEAM USA / San Francisco (USA) / 16-10-2012 Guilain GRENIER
AC 72 Sail 8 Capize / SFO Oct Testing Session / ORACLE TEAM USA / San Francisco (USA) / 16-10-2012 Guilain GRENIER
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