America's Cup: While Team New Zealand fix boat, Oracle rival Jimmy Spithill is relaxing

Oracle Team USA skipper Jimmy Spithill does some stand up paddle boarding in conditions that were too rough to race on the water today. Photo / Twitter @americacup

Wild weather conditions in Bermuda did not discourage Oracle Team USA skipper Jimmy Spithill from taking to the water today on the Great Sound.

Just 30 minutes after racing was called off on day three of the America's Cup challenger semifinals due to high winds, the defender was spotted out on the turquoise waters of the Great Sound.

Spithill today opted for a more stable choice of craft than the foiling 50-ft America's Cup Class catamarans that have proven difficult to handle in high winds, taking a spin on a Stand-Up Paddleboard.

The two-time America's Cup winning skipper is a keen all-round sportsman, and has taken part in several top-level SUP events.

Last month Spithill and Oracle teammates Graeme Spence and Rev Minihane took part in the gruelling Devil's Isle SUP challenge - a 29 mile endurance event. He was upstaged by a Kiwi in the race, however, with New Zealand's Annabel Anderson - the world number one - taking out the SUP class.

"We met during one of the campaigns in New Zealand and we've done a little bit of paddling together. She's just a machine out there," Spithill said of Anderson.

"Really impressive to see what someone like that can do."