Jimmy Spithill grew up in Pittwater north of Sydney and relied on boats for everyday travel. He began windsurfing at age five and sailed independently as a child. Two crew members from the 1983 America's Cup-winning Australia II lived nearby and inspired his interest in sailing. He entered the boating industry in 1991, working at Beashel's Boatshed while in primary school and connecting with Colin Beashel. Spithill finished third in the 1998 Sydney to Hobart, skippered Young Australia at age 20 in the 2000 America's Cup, and skippered winning teams in 2010 and 2013. He now serves as CEO and part-owner of the Italian SailGP team, overseeing on- and off-water operations, leadership, and commercial development, and maintains a daily morning gym routine before race days and travel.
I grew up just north of Sydney in Pittwater. To go anywhere, from school to buying groceries, we had to go by boat. I started windsurfing at 5 and started taking the boat out by myself when I was a bit older. Two team members of the 1983 America's Cup-winning yacht Australia II lived nearby, and they were heroes to me.
Sail GP is a high-speed global sailing competition featuring identical, technologically advanced F50 catamarans. The races happen all over the world in cities like New York and Geneva, so I travel with the team. If it's a race day, I like to get up early. I still like to think I'm an athlete, and I always find I make better decisions if I get up and get the blood pumping. I hit the gym in the morning before I do anything else.
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