Alinghi
Encyclopedia
Alinghi is the syndicate set up by Ernesto Bertarelli
, racing under the colors of the Société Nautique de Genève
, to challenge for the America's Cup
. Bertarelli had raced several smaller yachts named Alinghi previously, but 2003 was his first attempt at the America's Cup. Alinghi successfully challenged for and won the America's Cup
in 2003 in Auckland
New Zealand
and successfully defended at the 2007 America's Cup
in Valencia, Spain
. Alinghi lost the America's Cup to the Golden Gate Yacht Club
and their team BMW Oracle Racing
in a Deed of Gift match in Valencia, in February 2010.
For the 2003 event Team New Zealand
as the holder of the America's Cup, in consultation with Prada the Challenger of Record, removed the nationality rule which stipulated that all the crew members must be nationals of the challenging syndicate.
Alinghi took full advantage of this rule change and hired many of the world's top America's Cup sailors particularly from New Zealand. New Zealanders saw the defection of key members of Team New Zealand to Alinghi as an act of disloyalty to their home country which was understandable against a background of strong nationwide public support for Team New Zealand which they saw as representing their country rather than just representing the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron
.
After a series of discussions with Team New Zealand it has been announced that they will compete in the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series
in 2009.
In July 2010, it appeared that the team was being disbanded and would not compete in future America's Cups. On November 26, 2010, Alinghi formally confirmed that it would not participate in the 2013 America's Cup.
Coinciding with the change in the nationality rules concerning the crew and in order to maximize the chances of success, Alinghi hired Russell Coutts
, the successful skipper and helmsman of Team New Zealand. Coutts had already won the America's Cup for New Zealand
in 1995 and successfully defended for New Zealand in 2000. Along with Coutts came several other important Kiwi
sailors, including Team New Zealand tactician Brad Butterworth
. Grant Simmer, another America's Cup veteran, joined as managing director and head of design. Bertarelli, the syndicate's president, served as navigator during the racing.
Apart from New Zealand, the Alinghi team consisted of members from Germany
, the United States
, Canada
, the Netherlands
, France
, Italy
, Spain
, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Portugal
, Turkey
, Ireland
, the UK (from Scotland
and Wales
), Belgium
, South Africa
, Australia
, Uruguay
, Argentina
, Denmark
, Ecuador
, and Switzerland
.
The Alinghi boats for the 2003 challenge, SUI-64 (the race boat) and the SUI-75, were developed specifically for the race by the Alinghi team in close collaboration with the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne
. Alinghi also had a test yacht from the 2000 America's cup, SUI-59 (formerly called Fast 2000).
Alinghi raced to a 5-0 victory against Team New Zealand on March 2, 2003, winning the America's Cup.
They guaranteed themselves a further stake in the history books by becoming the first team since the inaugural race in 1851 to return the Auld Mug to Europe and for being the first team to win the Cup on its first attempt.
Alinghi's stated vision was "to win the America's Cup, while earning respect and recognition as a world class sports team as well as sharing our passion".
on April 27, 2004. Immediately prior to this, Alinghi (via America's Cup Management) changed the America's Cup Rules to prevent any team members from moving between teams until completion of the 2007 America's Cup
. Alinghi, as the then current holders of the America's Cup, were fully entitled to change the rule. Nine months later the conflict was ended with a short statement.
The sailing team was extended again and was led for the 2007 campaign by Brad Butterworth
, Alinghi’s tactician and vice-president. Butterworth was highly experienced in America's Cup racing having sailed aboard the winning boat in the three previous competitions. Butterworth's team had many world-class sailors including Peter Holmberg, Ed Baird, Juan Vila, Jordi Calafat, Warwick Fleury, Simon Daubney, and Murray Jones. Jochen Schümann
, winner of four Olympic medals, was the sports director for the sailing team.
Alinghi participated in all Louis Vuitton Acts, along with the 11 challengers from nine nations, before defending the America's Cup during the Match Race in June 2007. UBS
, and BT Infonet have renewed their commitment to the team as Main Partners for the next four years, along with Audemars Piguet
, SGS
, Nespresso
, MSC Cruises, WISeKey
and North Sails as co sponsors. Alinghi's first America's Cup Defeat came on June 24, 2007 when they were defeated by Emirates Team New Zealand in the second race of the 32nd America's Cup off Valencia.
After a series of close races between the seemingly closely matched competitors, Alinghi won their final race against Emirates Team New Zealand on July 3, 2007, defending the America's cup with Five wins to Team New Zealand's two.
The official time given by the America's Cup website is one second winning margin for race 7.
Due to this victory, Team Alinghi received one of the highest honors in sport, the Olympic Cup in 2003. The Olympic Cup (French: Coupe Olympique) is an award given annually by the International Olympic Committee.
announced on July 5, 2007 that the protocol for the 33rd America's Cup had been agreed between the Defending yacht club, the Société Nautique de Genève
of Switzerland
and its Challenger of Record, the Club Náutico Español de Vela of Spain
. However this arrangement did not survive a legal challenge from BMW Oracle Racing
, who successfully argued that Club Náutico Español de Vela was not a valid Challenger of Record due to non-compliance with the terms of the America's Cup Deed of Gift.
Swiss based companies WISeKey and Hublot were the two primary sponsors of Alinghi's 2010 defense.
After extensive court action, Golden Gate Yacht Club
(whose team is BMW Oracle Racing) was declared Challenger of Record and sailed against Alinghi, in a Deed of Gift match, in February 2010 in Valencia, Spain. The competing boats, Alinghi 5
and USA 17, were both 90-foot multihulls. The rigid wing sail of USA 17 provided a decisive advantage and Golden Gate Yacht Club won the 2010 America's Cup two races to none.
Ernesto Bertarelli
Ernesto Bertarelli is a Swiss-Italian billionaire and entrepreneur.Together with his extended family, Bertarelli was ranked 81st in the 2011 annual ranking of the world's wealthiest people compiled and published by Forbes magazine, The family's wealth was estimated at US$10.0...
, racing under the colors of the Société Nautique de Genève
Société Nautique de Genève
The Société Nautique de Genève is a yacht club based in Geneva . It was founded in 1872 with the goal of developing nautical sports and high level sailors...
, to challenge for the America's Cup
America's Cup
The America’s Cup is a trophy awarded to the winner of the America's Cup match races between two yachts. One yacht, known as the defender, represents the yacht club that currently holds the America's Cup and the second yacht, known as the challenger, represents the yacht club that is challenging...
. Bertarelli had raced several smaller yachts named Alinghi previously, but 2003 was his first attempt at the America's Cup. Alinghi successfully challenged for and won the America's Cup
America's Cup
The America’s Cup is a trophy awarded to the winner of the America's Cup match races between two yachts. One yacht, known as the defender, represents the yacht club that currently holds the America's Cup and the second yacht, known as the challenger, represents the yacht club that is challenging...
in 2003 in Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
and successfully defended at the 2007 America's Cup
2007 America's Cup
The 2007 America's Cup was the thirty-second challenge for the America's Cup and was won by Alinghi in the 7th race. The Cup is the most famous and most prestigious regatta and Match Race in the sport of sailing....
in Valencia, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. Alinghi lost the America's Cup to the Golden Gate Yacht Club
Golden Gate Yacht Club
The Golden Gate Yacht Club is a yacht club founded in 1939 and is the current holder of the America's Cup won by its racing team BMW Oracle Racing.In 1939 the first members built a clubhouse on a barge in the San Francisco Marina...
and their team BMW Oracle Racing
BMW Oracle Racing
Oracle Racing is an American sailboat racing syndicate initially formed to compete for the 2003 America’s Cup. They competed again in the 2007 event before winning the 33rd America's Cup regatta in 2010 - representing the Golden Gate Yacht Club....
in a Deed of Gift match in Valencia, in February 2010.
For the 2003 event Team New Zealand
Team New Zealand
Team New Zealand is a sailing team based in Auckland, New Zealand representing the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron.Team New Zealand has become a household name in their home country following their consecutive wins in the America's Cup in 1995 and 2000...
as the holder of the America's Cup, in consultation with Prada the Challenger of Record, removed the nationality rule which stipulated that all the crew members must be nationals of the challenging syndicate.
Alinghi took full advantage of this rule change and hired many of the world's top America's Cup sailors particularly from New Zealand. New Zealanders saw the defection of key members of Team New Zealand to Alinghi as an act of disloyalty to their home country which was understandable against a background of strong nationwide public support for Team New Zealand which they saw as representing their country rather than just representing the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron
Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron
The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron is one of New Zealand's more prestigious yacht clubs, and the club behind New Zealand's America's Cup campaigns, under the guise of Team New Zealand....
.
After a series of discussions with Team New Zealand it has been announced that they will compete in the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series
Louis Vuitton Pacific Series
The Louis Vuitton Pacific Series was a match race regatta in America's Cup Class yachts in Auckland, New Zealand during January and February 2009. Racing started on 30 January. The Louis Vuitton Pacific Series was organised in association with the New Zealand Government, Emirates Team New Zealand,...
in 2009.
In July 2010, it appeared that the team was being disbanded and would not compete in future America's Cups. On November 26, 2010, Alinghi formally confirmed that it would not participate in the 2013 America's Cup.
2003 challenge
Russell Coutts
Sir Russell Coutts, KNZM, CBE is a competitive sailor. His achievements include a Gold medal in the Finn Class in the 1984 Olympic Games, winning the America's Cup four times, the ISAF World Youth championships, three World Match Racing Championships, numerous international match race wins and...
, the successful skipper and helmsman of Team New Zealand. Coutts had already won the America's Cup for New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
in 1995 and successfully defended for New Zealand in 2000. Along with Coutts came several other important Kiwi
Kiwi (people)
Kiwi is the nickname used internationally for people from New Zealand, as well as being a relatively common self-reference. The name derives from the kiwi, a flightless bird, which is native to, and the national symbol of, New Zealand...
sailors, including Team New Zealand tactician Brad Butterworth
Brad Butterworth
Bradley William Butterworth, OBE is a world-renowned yachtsman known for the role he played as tactician and skipper in the America's Cup for Team New Zealand and the Alinghi team of Switzerland.He was born in Te Awamutu, New Zealand in 1959...
. Grant Simmer, another America's Cup veteran, joined as managing director and head of design. Bertarelli, the syndicate's president, served as navigator during the racing.
Apart from New Zealand, the Alinghi team consisted of members from Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
, Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, the UK (from Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
and Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
), Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, Uruguay
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
, Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
, Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
, Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
, and Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
.
The Alinghi boats for the 2003 challenge, SUI-64 (the race boat) and the SUI-75, were developed specifically for the race by the Alinghi team in close collaboration with the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne
École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne
The École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne is one of the two Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology and is located in Lausanne, Switzerland.The school was founded by the Swiss Federal Government with the stated mission to:...
. Alinghi also had a test yacht from the 2000 America's cup, SUI-59 (formerly called Fast 2000).
Alinghi raced to a 5-0 victory against Team New Zealand on March 2, 2003, winning the America's Cup.
They guaranteed themselves a further stake in the history books by becoming the first team since the inaugural race in 1851 to return the Auld Mug to Europe and for being the first team to win the Cup on its first attempt.
Alinghi's stated vision was "to win the America's Cup, while earning respect and recognition as a world class sports team as well as sharing our passion".
2007 defense
Team Alinghi fired its Skipper Russell CouttsRussell Coutts
Sir Russell Coutts, KNZM, CBE is a competitive sailor. His achievements include a Gold medal in the Finn Class in the 1984 Olympic Games, winning the America's Cup four times, the ISAF World Youth championships, three World Match Racing Championships, numerous international match race wins and...
on April 27, 2004. Immediately prior to this, Alinghi (via America's Cup Management) changed the America's Cup Rules to prevent any team members from moving between teams until completion of the 2007 America's Cup
2007 America's Cup
The 2007 America's Cup was the thirty-second challenge for the America's Cup and was won by Alinghi in the 7th race. The Cup is the most famous and most prestigious regatta and Match Race in the sport of sailing....
. Alinghi, as the then current holders of the America's Cup, were fully entitled to change the rule. Nine months later the conflict was ended with a short statement.
The sailing team was extended again and was led for the 2007 campaign by Brad Butterworth
Brad Butterworth
Bradley William Butterworth, OBE is a world-renowned yachtsman known for the role he played as tactician and skipper in the America's Cup for Team New Zealand and the Alinghi team of Switzerland.He was born in Te Awamutu, New Zealand in 1959...
, Alinghi’s tactician and vice-president. Butterworth was highly experienced in America's Cup racing having sailed aboard the winning boat in the three previous competitions. Butterworth's team had many world-class sailors including Peter Holmberg, Ed Baird, Juan Vila, Jordi Calafat, Warwick Fleury, Simon Daubney, and Murray Jones. Jochen Schümann
Jochen Schümann
Jochen Schümann is a German sailor and olympic champion.He competed at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, where he won a gold medal in the finn class....
, winner of four Olympic medals, was the sports director for the sailing team.
Alinghi participated in all Louis Vuitton Acts, along with the 11 challengers from nine nations, before defending the America's Cup during the Match Race in June 2007. UBS
UBS AG
UBS AG is a Swiss global financial services company headquartered in Basel and Zürich, Switzerland, which provides investment banking, asset management, and wealth management services for private, corporate, and institutional clients worldwide, as well as retail clients in Switzerland...
, and BT Infonet have renewed their commitment to the team as Main Partners for the next four years, along with Audemars Piguet
Audemars Piguet
Audemars Piguet is a manufacturer of prestige Swiss watches which compete with Patek Philippe, Jaeger-LeCoultre and Vacheron Constantin.-Foundation:...
, SGS
SGS
SGS is a three letter acronym that can stand for:* Serene Global Services Pvt.Ltd* Seattle Girls' School* SGS Industrial Services* SGS S.A.* Società Generale Semiconduttori - Aquila Tubi E Semiconduttori , later SGS Microelettronica, a former Italian company now merged into STMicroelectronics* Small...
, Nespresso
Nespresso
Nespresso is the brand name of Nestlé Nespresso S.A., an operating unit of the Nestlé Group based in Lausanne, Switzerland. Nespresso machines brew espresso from special capsules containing ground coffee.- History :...
, MSC Cruises, WISeKey
WISeKey
WISeKey is a digital information security, authentication, and identity management company, headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland with regional subsidiaries around the world...
and North Sails as co sponsors. Alinghi's first America's Cup Defeat came on June 24, 2007 when they were defeated by Emirates Team New Zealand in the second race of the 32nd America's Cup off Valencia.
After a series of close races between the seemingly closely matched competitors, Alinghi won their final race against Emirates Team New Zealand on July 3, 2007, defending the America's cup with Five wins to Team New Zealand's two.
The official time given by the America's Cup website is one second winning margin for race 7.
Due to this victory, Team Alinghi received one of the highest honors in sport, the Olympic Cup in 2003. The Olympic Cup (French: Coupe Olympique) is an award given annually by the International Olympic Committee.
2010 defense
America's Cup ManagementAmerica's Cup Management
Alinghi, as holders of the America's Cup following their win in the 2003 America's Cup, held the responsibility and benefits of defining the rules and structure for the next event...
announced on July 5, 2007 that the protocol for the 33rd America's Cup had been agreed between the Defending yacht club, the Société Nautique de Genève
Société Nautique de Genève
The Société Nautique de Genève is a yacht club based in Geneva . It was founded in 1872 with the goal of developing nautical sports and high level sailors...
of Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
and its Challenger of Record, the Club Náutico Español de Vela of Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. However this arrangement did not survive a legal challenge from BMW Oracle Racing
BMW Oracle Racing
Oracle Racing is an American sailboat racing syndicate initially formed to compete for the 2003 America’s Cup. They competed again in the 2007 event before winning the 33rd America's Cup regatta in 2010 - representing the Golden Gate Yacht Club....
, who successfully argued that Club Náutico Español de Vela was not a valid Challenger of Record due to non-compliance with the terms of the America's Cup Deed of Gift.
Swiss based companies WISeKey and Hublot were the two primary sponsors of Alinghi's 2010 defense.
After extensive court action, Golden Gate Yacht Club
Golden Gate Yacht Club
The Golden Gate Yacht Club is a yacht club founded in 1939 and is the current holder of the America's Cup won by its racing team BMW Oracle Racing.In 1939 the first members built a clubhouse on a barge in the San Francisco Marina...
(whose team is BMW Oracle Racing) was declared Challenger of Record and sailed against Alinghi, in a Deed of Gift match, in February 2010 in Valencia, Spain. The competing boats, Alinghi 5
Alinghi 5
The Alinghi 5 is a LWL, beam sloop-rigged catamaran built by Alinghi for the 33rd America's Cup.It was launched on 8 July 2009 being lifted from the construction shed in Villeneuve, Vaud by a Mil Mi-26 helicopter and carried thereby to Lake Geneva. It was subsequently carried to Genoa, Italy...
and USA 17, were both 90-foot multihulls. The rigid wing sail of USA 17 provided a decisive advantage and Golden Gate Yacht Club won the 2010 America's Cup two races to none.