Oracle Yacht Cancels Plans to Train on Lanai

Oracle Team USA, courtesy photo.

By Wendy Osher

Oracle Team USA has cancelled plans to conduct winter training on the island of Lāna‘i.

Oracle Team USA’s General Manager, Grant Simmer said that with full-time training underway, the team is reevaluating its winter program needs.

The team was founded 12 years ago by Larry Ellison, the CEO of Oracle, who completed purchase of a majority of land assets on the island from Castle & Cooke’s David Murdock in June.

“At this time, ORACLE TEAM USA has decided not to train next winter in Lāna‘i, Hawaii, with our new AC72. We are grateful for the tremendous support given to our team and the project from the community of Lāna‘i, Maui County and the government of Hawai‘i, and we hope we will get the opportunity to work together again in the future,” said Simmer.

According to Simmer, the 34th America’s Cup is one year away, and team  training is currently underway for America’s Cup World Series events.

Oracle had filed a Draft Environmental Assessment for use of Kaumalapau Harbor as a temporary base of operations for sea trials, training, and related research.  The trials were intended to aid the San Francisco-based team in supporting the development of a high-performance boat for competitive sailing events.

The plans had called for the use of a temporary, 200‐foot long floating dock, the addition of two to three temporary moorings, and the delivery of 11 standard shipping containers.

Oracle would have adjusted its schedule to accommodate the docking of the Safari Explorer vessel, as well as Young Brothers on barge days.

The boat itself is a catamaran‐class sail boat comprised of a twin‐hull sail platform and a rigid wingsail. The platform has a hull length of 72 feet and beam of 46 feet. The wingsail is 131 feet in height.