Two-time winner Jimmy Spithill believes he has raced his last America’s Cup, after his Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli were beaten in the challengers final off Barcelona.
"I really think I am at the end of the line now," said Spithill, 45, while praising all the young sailing talents coming up behind him.
This was his eighth consecutive America’s Cup campaign and third with Luna Rossa.
Luna Rossa fell 7-4 to INEOS Britannia in the Louis Vuitton Cup final. The British will face Emirates Team New Zealand in the America’s Cup final.
The Aussie has steered Luna Rossa to a challenger defeat. (Source: Supplied)
Spithill is best known for twice winning the America’s Cup with Oracle Team USA in 2010 and 2013, including the epic comeback at San Francisco, where the American-based crew was down 8-1 at matchpoint, before winning eight straight races against the Kiwi.
"Imagine if these guys lost from here," he taunted rival Dean Barker, before masterminding the complete reversal in fortunes. "What an upset that would be.
"That would be one helluva story. That would be one helluva comeback and that's the kind of thing I'd like to be a part of."
Four years later, Team NZ would have their revenge, snatching the 'Auld Mug' back at Bermuda.
Spithill was in his second campaign with co-helmsman Francesco Bruni. In 2021 at Auckland, they steered Luna Rossa into the final, where they fell to the Kiwis.
"I think I'm definitely getting toward the end," Spithill told America's Cup TV. "When I look at the talent — especially in Italy, but also worldwide — that is coming through.
"They are at a much better level than I ever was, so yeah, I really think I'm at the end of the line now, this will be it for me.
"I think you have to be realistic, I wasn't good enough to get it done here and I think it's time the gloves are hung up."
Spithill stepped down as driver of the United States Sail GP team last November, when the team changed ownership, and announced his intention to establish an Italian outfit in the future.
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