Were it not for a series of emergency surgeries and 10 weeks on an intravenous drip, James Spithill would have had his left arm amputated earlier this year and his 2017 America's Cup defence with Oracle Team USA would be in tatters.
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Spithill has revealed post-surgical complications after efforts to repair a persistent case of tennis elbow turned sour when he rushed back onto the water before letting the troublesome injury fully heal.
It left him dependent on seemingly endless courses of antibiotics to stave off infection, during which time dreams of skippering Oracle Team USA to another America's Cup triumph took a back seat to the thought of potentially losing his arm.
The 37-year-old carried an elbow injury through last year's Sydney To Hobart which he won about Comanche, and realised he could no longer ignore the problem after an American's Cup World Series race in the UK in July.
"I had a race, Portsmouth in the Louis Vuitton World Series, on the Saturday I tore [the tendon] off the bone but then raced Sunday," Spithill said.
"The surgery was a success but I rushed back and got it wet and picked up a real bad infection and then it was multiple surgeries, pretty much living with the surgeon.
"IV for 10 weeks, antibiotics morning and night so it was a battle.
"Typical, hard lesson to learn but you've got to balance it out. You can't just go full throttle all the time.
"I'm glad we finally won and we beat it. If it wasn't for the surgeon, a guy by the name of Rob Bray, who knows. He saved me, I almost lost my arm."
With no Comanche in this year's Sydney To Hobart, Spithill plans to put his feet up on Boxing Day this year and watch the race from a lounge chair.
Crucially it will keep his elbow safe before he ramps up preparations for next year's America's Cup, which Spithill has long said will be the most open event in the history of the race.
Oracle Team USA will be racing a new boat next year, the AC50 foiling wingsail catamaran which is 22 feet shorter than the AC72 they used to snatch a stunning win in the 2013 America's Cup.
"It [the elbow injury] gave me time to really think about the campaign, what was going on, it was just a good mental test," Spithill said.
"It's a bit of a blessing in disguise that Comanche isn't here because it gives me a chance to recuperate because the next six months will be full throttle.
"On these boats now you almost need three arms to be honest.
"It's just another thing with where the game's gone, it's so physical now. The level these guys are at it rivals mainstream now, rivals NFL, rugby.
"We bring guys in from different codes of sport and they're blown away by the environment and what they've got to deal with. The average age is way down now and for that reason, it's physical, there are injuries and there's a lot more risk."
Prior to kicking the throttle to full though, Spithill plans to enjoy this year's Sydney To Hobart and he says Wild Oats XI is clearly the yacht to beat.
"If I had to put the farm on it, it'd be on Wild Oats, no doubt," Spithill said.
"Unless they break, that's who I've got my money on.
"They're very committed owners. There's no shortcut to hours on the water, especially in that race, and experience, if you looked at that team and crew, it really is one of the most experienced teams.
"Just putting hours on the water out there and in the ocean, they've done that and they know what works, they know their competitors well. They're set up to really be one of the best all-round boats."
