Oracle Racing auctions '17th man' position for charity

Oracle Racing is donating a "17th man" position aboard an America's Cup yacht to a charity auction in San Francisco.

The top bidder, who must be a California resident, will travel with a guest to Auckland aboard Air New Zealand to join Oracle Racing as a guest observer during a race in the first round of the Louis Vuitton challenger series.

The auction is being conducted through the website of local radio station KGO to raise funds for a foundation associated with the city's professional gridiron team, the 49ers.

On May 24, 49ers head coach Steve Mariucci joined members of the Oracle Racing Team and its owner, Larry Ellison, for a race aboard the team's training boat USA 49 on San Francisco Bay as part of the inaugural International America's Cup Class (IACC) regatta.