Larry’s Ellison’s passion for sailing has led to technological advances and innovations in sailing that have trickled down for the rest of the sport.

Beyond winning five Maxi World Championships on his 78-foot yacht, Sayonara, and winning the America’s Cup twice (2010, 2013), Larry has contributed to the development of sailing at the highest levels by creating pathways for younger sailors coming up through the sport. Beginning with the inclusion of the Red Bull Youth America’s Cup in San Francisco, to developing SailGP and the F50 as a new niche of the sport, he has had a profound impact on the sport of sailing in the United States.

“I was passionate about sailing and the idea of sailing … the idyllic independence … traveling with the wind.” – Larry Ellison

Accomplishments and Honors
• In the 1990’s, on 78-foot Sayonara, won 5 Maxi World Championships
• Oracle Team USA: following success racing Maxi yachts, Ellison founded BMW Oracle Racing to compete for the 2003 Louis Vuitton Cup. The BMW Oracle/Oracle USA team has owned several boats, including:

• USA 71 trial boat for the 2003 America’s Cup.
• USA 76 race boat for the 2003 America’s Cup.
• USA 87 used in preparations for the 2007 Louis Vuitton Cup.
• USA 98 raced in the Louis Vuitton Cup 2007 campaign.
• USA 17, trimaran. Sailing with a rigid wing sail, she won the 2010 America’s Cup, in a Deed of Gift match against SNG/Alinghi Valencia.
• USA17, an AC72 catamaran for the 2013 America’s Cup defense. Extensively damaged in an October 2012 capsize. Successfully defended in the 2013 America’s Cup.
• 17AC50 wing sail catamaran. Unsuccessfully defended the 2017 America’s Cup.
• In 2002, Ellison’s Oracle team introduced kite yachting into the America’s Cup environment. Kite sail flying lasting about 30 minutes was achieved during testing in New Zealand.
• In 2019, Ellison, in conjunction with Russel Coutts, started the SailGP international racing series. The series used F50 foiling catamarans, the fastest class of boat in history with regattas held across the globe. Ellison committed to five years of funding to support the series until it could become self-sustaining. The first season was successful with global audiences of over 1.8 billion.