Oracle skipper Jimmy Spithill hasn't ruled out the posibility of racing for Team New Zealand in the future.
Oracle reportedly won't participate at the 36th America's Cup, which would mean Australian-born Spithill would have to sail for another team.
Spithill recently told Fox Sports Australia that he wants to go to the team where he has the best chance at winning, and that might well be with New Zealand.
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"I have a massive amount of respect for Team New Zealand and that's because of the people. The way they've got about is just amazing," he told RadioLIVE.
"The way they approach it they have lots of ingenuity and a very tight team.
"If it is a team of great regardless of what the event is, I just want to work with great people, I'd never rule it out regardless of what the event is."
With speculation Larry Ellison won't enter the next regatta, it is possible the 38-year-old might be on board New Zealand's boat in 2021.
But even if Ellison decides to enter, there are talks that he doesn't want Spithill on his boat, and potential eligibility rules might prevent that from happening.
However Spithill would prefer one more chance to win the Cup for the Americans.
"Instinctively, the way it went down, I don't want to leave it like that. I'm not used to throwing in the towel and giving up," he said.
"Ultimately, I let everyone down. That's a fact. If you don't win, ultimately you've let them down."
Spithill also admitted the Americans looked at possibly using cyclors on their boat, and credits New Zealand for the brilliant idea which ultimately won them the Cup.
"It was a bold decision [from Team NZ]. We were too conservative and I didn't go with my gut instincts during the campaign," he said.
"In hindsight, I regret a lot of things and the decisions we made, but I think all the teams looked hard."
Jimmy Spithill is currently in New Zealand promoting his new book called Chasing The Cup.
Newshub.
