ORACLE TEAM USA looking for a freshwater win

Jimmy Spithill © Ricardo Pinto

As the Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series comes to the freshwaters of Lake Michigan for the first time, ORACLE TEAM USA is looking to close the gap with overall series leader Emirates Team New Zealand.

"We want to win," said skipper Jimmy Spithill. "I know I've said that a lot ahead of these events, but that is always our goal."

To date, the team has recorded consistent podium finishes, good enough for second place on the leaderboard, but a win in Chicago would be a sweet first victory at the Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series.

"It would be great to get a win in Chicago in front of a home crowd," Spithill said. "That's what makes this type of racing so much fun – being able to hear the support from the crowd. We're not racing hidden away, far offshore. We'll be just off Navy Pier and as much as the fans can see and hear us, we can see and hear them."

Spithill says fans can expect "fast paced and aggressive racing" with plenty of lead changes and close action.

"The boats get incredibly close, there's a little bit of "rubbing is racing" to it as we're going very, very fast on a tight, confined race course."

Racing starts on Friday with the official practice day. Point scoring racing is on Saturday and Sunday. All racing starts at 1:30pm local time.

Find out where to watch at www.americascup.com/en/where-to-watch.html