And he's about to get one after his third shot at it. Larry Ellison gets 3rd crack at America's Cup February 08, 2010|By Jim Doyle, Special to The Chronicle Valencia, Spain — Software tycoon Larry Ellison isn't accustomed to losing. He outgunned his corporate rivals for 30 years to become the world's fourth-richest man and king of database technology. He won the hand of a celebrated romance novelist and built a 23-acre Japanese-inspired paradise in Woodside. The only prize that's apparently eluded the Bay Area billionaire is the America's Cup, a silver ewer that's sailing's most coveted prize. Today, Ellison, 66, the chief executive of Oracle Corp., takes his third stab at winning international sports' oldest trophy - this time in an extreme sailing event in wintry waters off the Spanish Mediterranean coast. The high-stakes grudge match between Ellison's BMW Oracle Racing syndicate and the current cup holder, the Swiss Alinghi team bankrolled by pharmaceutical heir Ernesto Bertarelli, will be sailed in the two fastest boats that have ever raced in the America's Cup. The best-of-three series on a 40-mile-long racecourse will determine the next cup holder. "I don't like him. I won't beat around the bush," Ellison told The Chronicle. "If I was going to be nasty, I'd say, what has he done in his life that he's proud of?" "I came here determined to shake his hand," Bertarelli, 45, said at a news conference Saturday that Ellison declined to attend. "Here I am, available, and he is not here." For many sports fans, the notion of watching a sailboat race is about as thrilling as watching grass grow. But this year's showdown could be one of the most exciting matchups in the cup's nearly 160-year history. It is being broadcast live in Europe and streamed on the Internet. NOW: Ellison is on-board. Live video streaming on Internet at http://www.americascup.com/en/regate/regarder-la-course/show.html http://articles.sfgate.com/2010-02-08/news/17848420_1_sports-oldest-trophy-cup-holder-america-s-cup
Larry Ellison is on board the BMW Oracle and has a big lead. UPDATE 16:40: Dam! He just lost the lead. I don't want him spending another $400 M trying to get a cup. He needs to buy the Warriors!!! Watch it live here: http://www.americascup.com/en/regate/regarder-la-course/show.html
Ellison's team won. I'm not sure if he'll start thinking about buying the Warriors, but at least he won't be as obsessed with winning the America's Cup. It took him seven years and he spent about $400 M of his own caysh. On his site, it says Team + Technology = WIN! http://bmworacleracing.com/en/index.html?track.refer=
