Cooper Dressler

SailGP:
Dressler joins the United States SailGP Team in Season 2 as a true product of the American sailing development scene. He brings an incredible amount of strength to the team roster and was a recent teammate of helmsman Jimmy Spithill in the 2017 America’s Cup competing for ORACLE TEAM USA.

Youth:
Dressler learned to sail as a child at the Coronado Yacht Club which offered free lessons to kids in the community. He competed on his high school sailing team before attending college at University of California Santa Cruz.

After graduating with a degree in Earth Science, Dressler decided to take a chance at the age of 24 and pursue a career in professional sailing. He competed with the American Youth Sailing Force team for the 2013 Red Bull Youth America’s Cup in San Francisco.

Career:
Dressler’s professional pathway is a true “Cinderella” story in professional sailing. Willing to take any opportunity to join a professional team, he jumped at a chance to work on the shore team for America’s Cup Defender ORACLE TEAM USA in 2014.

Dressler worked 12-hour days and then would put in hard workouts in the evenings - much to the notice of team leader, Jimmy Spithill. Based on this work ethic, Dressler was invited to join the sailing team of ORACLE TEAM USA in 2015 and has since gone on to race at the highest levels of the sport. He most recently competed as a grinder with 2021 America’s Cup Challenger, American Magic.

Personal:
Dressler holds a degree in Earth Science from the University of California Santa Cruz. He enjoys surfing and free diving in his spare time and is also a licensed pilot.