BETA
This is a BETA experience. You may opt-out by clicking here

More From Forbes

Vacation In Hawaii Like A Homeowner With Destination Residences Hawaii
This Ranch In Wyoming Comes With Its Own Air Strip And Guest Lodge
Award-Winning Architect Reimagines The Hotels Of The Future
Five-Star Hotel Chef Shares Tips For Creating A Kitchen Garden At Home
Experience A Five Star Hotel At Home With These Recipes From Red Carnation Hotel Collection
The Travel Trend Of The Future: Luxury Resorts That Grow Their Own Food
Edit Story
ForbesLifestyle

Netscape Navigator: Jim Clark, Larry Ellison and Other High-Seas Thrillionaires

Michael Solomon
Forbes Staff
I am the editor of ForbesLife.
Following
This article is more than 9 years old.

This story appears in the March 1, 2015 issue of Forbes. Subscribe

"Someone once asked me if it's worth $100 million to win the America's Cup," Oracle founder Larry Ellison once said. "It's certainly not worth $100 million to lose the America's Cup." But what about the Sydney Hobart race, one of the world's most demanding sailing competitions? For Netscape cofounder Jim Clark, a former Navy man, last December's 628-nautical-mile race was especially meaningful because his 35-year-old Australian supermodel wife, Kristy Hinze-Clark, wanted to take part as a crew member.

So the 70-year-old billionaire built Comanche (a state-of-the-art supermaxi yacht), assembled an impressive international sailing team (skippered by American Ken Read) ... and came in second to Wild Oats XI, owned by Aussie vintner Robert Oatley, the eight-time winner of the contest. Here's how Clark's campaign compares with those of other famous water warriors:

(Getty Images/Cameron Spencer)

Owner: Jim Clark

Event: 2014 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race

Boat: Comanche

Cost: $15 million

Estimated cost of campaign: $40 million

Finished: Second

Cap'n says: "Boats of this type are sort of like building a Formula 1 car. You are not going to ever get anything back from it, except enjoyment."

(AP Photo/Ben Margot)

Owner: Larry Ellison

Event: 2013 America's Cup

Boat: USA-17

Cost: $8 million to $10 million

Cost of campaign: $300 million

Finished: First

Cap'n says: "I discovered that my personality doesn't allow me to quit while winning."

(Getty Images)

Owner: Bill Koch

Event: 1992 America's Cup

Boat: America3

Cost: $5 million

Cost of campaign: $68 million

Finished: First

Cap'n says: "Financially, I would say, win or lose, it's not worth it."

(Ellen Hoke/Great Pacific Race/ZUMA Press/Newscom)

(Forbes Image)

Owner: Sami Inkinen

Event: 2014 Great Pacific Race

Boat: Roosevelt

Cost: $45,000

Cost of campaign: Raised more than $300,000 to combat childhood obesity

Finished: First (pairs division)

Cap'n says: After successfully rowing from Monterey to Honolulu for 45 days with his wife, Inkinen wrote on his blog: "Divorce papers are untouched in a waterproof container."

Michael Solomon
Michael Solomon