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Alinghi begins training in Ras Al Khaimah, 33rd America’s Cup Venue

Saturday, October 17th, 2009

The Defender of the 33rd America’s Cup set sail today for the start of AC training in Emirati waters.


Photos: Guido Trombetta / Alinghi

Alinghi, the 33rd America’s Cup Defender, cast off from the America’s Cup Island of Al Hamra this morning and set sail for its first training day in Ras Al Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates.

“The conditions are ideal here for these boats,” said Brad Butterworth, Alinghi team skipper, “exactly the building sea breeze that we hoped for which means we can sail as much as six days a week; it couldn’t be better for what we are trying to achieve.” The giant catamaran Alinghi 5 arrived in the Emirates from Europe on 30 September after a 12 day, 4,400nm voyage and since then the team has relocated, reassembled the boat and prepared it for the four-month training session ahead of the first race of the 33rd America’s Cup in February 2010.

“I would like to thank Ras Al Khaimah, the United Arab Emirates, his Highness Sheikh Saud, his Highness Sheikh Omar and Dr Massaad among many others. This is a fantastic venue for the America’s Cup. It is work in progress, but what has been achieved so far is second to none. It’s an honour and a pleasure to be here and I can’t wait to get sailing,” said Ernesto Bertarelli, Alinghi team president, at a press conference in Al Hamra Village on Saturday. “Some of the things I see from BMW Oracle read like the trailer of a Hollywood movie, do they really think we and the rest of the world ignore the fact that 40% of the world oil traffic goes through the Strait of Hormuz and as many goods are coming in to provide for what is the fastest growing region in the world over the last 10 years? If the Strait or this area had any security issues, we would know about it. So I say: Come on BMW Oracle, Larry Ellison, Russell Coutts and Tom Ehman; let’s get real and let’s get sailing. Stop inventing things for the sake of it.”

Preparations for the America’s Cup continue apace, both on Al Hamra Island, home to the team bases, and within Al Hamra Village where the teams and America’s Cup visitors will be accommodated over the next few months. The infrastructure is tailor-made for the event, courtesy of Ras Al Khaimah and Dr Khater Massaad, Advisor to H.H. Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, whose support has been invaluable. “We are proud to host such a world-acclaimed sporting event and welcome Alinghi with open arms,” said Dr Massaad, “we just hope to be able to welcome BMW Oracle, the challenger, soon in order to finalise preparations at their base on Al Hamra America’s Cup Island. The government of Ras Al Khaimah and the UAE guarantee the security of both teams in the lead up and during the Cup,” he declared.

Grant Simmer, Alinghi’s design team coordinator, has been on site during the early preparations and is delighted at the speed that work has progressed: “The difference between when we arrived here and now is amazing. The support from everyone involved in Ras Al Khaimah has been incomparable and we look forward to a successful America’s Cup Match in February 2010.”

Alinghi will now settle in to a training schedule towards the America’s Cup Match.

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Statement from Brad Butterworth skipper of Alinghi

Friday, October 2nd, 2009

Statement from Société Nautique de Genève’s Brad Butterworth, four-time America’s Cup winner and skipper of the America’s Cup defending team Alinghi, following yet another lawsuit from the American challenger BMW Oracle:

“Larry Ellison, Russell Coutts and their yacht club, the Golden Gate, seem to believe that the 33rd America’s Cup can be won in court as their 7th legal challenge demonstrates. Our team is ready to compete in Ras al Khaimah, UAE, the official venue for the 33rd America’s Cup and will begin four months of intensive training before the start of the America’s Cup Match on 8 February 2010.

BMW Oracle’s latest lawsuit is further proof of their unsportsmanlike behaviour. We will only return to the legal process to show that it is sporting character and sailing strategy that wins races, not litigation. Meanwhile our Cup preparations and training will continue in Ras al Khaimah where we hope they will deign to join us for the America’s Cup Match.

As Trustee of the America’s Cup, we are convinced that Ras al Khaimah is the perfect and legitimate venue for the 33rd edition of sport’s oldest trophy. New York Supreme Court Justice Cahn’s order of 2008 stated that ‘the location of the match shall be in Valencia or any other location selected by SNG’. As far as BMW Oracle’s security concerns: Tiger Woods plays in the UAE every year, Roger Federer plays here every year, and even Russell Coutts sails here every year.

Their claims regarding the Deed of Gift prevailing over the order of the Court are in conflict with previous submissions on the date of the match. Their complaints as to safety are not truly held by them, demonstrated by the fact that they have relocated personnel to Ras Al Khaimah, and have equipment at the venue in preparation for the Match.

We believe this lawsuit is yet another tactic employed by Larry Ellison and BMW Oracle to avoid racing us for the Cup on the water.”

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Alinghi arrives in Ras al Khaimah

Friday, October 2nd, 2009

Alinghi-genova

The Swiss Defender of the 33rd America’s Cup docked in the Emirate of Ras al Khaimah on Wednesday morning after a 12 day, 4,400nm voyage aboard Rickmers Singapore, a cargo ship.

The 193m ship left Genoa, Italy, on 18 September with the giant catamaran, Alinghi 5, two masts, seven support vessels and approximately 20 containers on board. It travelled across the Mediterranean, through the Suez Canal and Gulf, across the Red and then Arabian Sea before docking in Saqr Port, Ras al Khaimah in the Arabian Gulf at 06:30 CET on Wednesday 30 September.

“We are extremely happy that the shipment, including Alinghi 5, arrived safely in Ras al Khaimah,” said Grant Simmer, design team coordinator. “All the equipment that we used in Genoa was onboard so now we can set up our base and workshops and get going. We will be doing some modifications to the yacht over the coming days and the team members are arriving and getting settled so it’s going to be a busy few weeks, we hope to be sailing again as soon as possible. We greatly appreciate the support that we are getting from the local community and from the government of Ras al Khaimah,” he added.

Dr. Khater Massaad, CEO of RAK Investment Authority, added his pleasure at the team’s arrival: “We welcome the arrival of Alinghi to Ras al Khaimah for the preparation of the 33rd America’s Cup event and we also look forward to welcoming BMW Oracle.”

The Alinghi catamaran will travel to the America’s Cup Island of Al Hamra over the coming days along with its entourage and for the next four months the team will be focused on training for the Match for the America’s Cup which starts on 8 February 2010.

Other news:

Société Nautique de Genève (SNG) confirms that it has received the modern day equivalent of the Custom House Registry detailing BMW Oracle’s USA, challenger for the 33rd America’s Cup. SNG published the Measurement Procedures in August of this year. These procedures will be used by the measurers to confirm the dimensions of both the Defender and the Challenger’s yachts; checking that the dimensions of the yachts comply with the Deed of Gift and, in the case of the Challenger, with the dimensions of their Certificate of Vessel provided with their challenge. The Defender remains committed to a race for the America’s Cup on the water starting 8 February 2010 and looks forward to welcoming BMW Oracle at the venue in Ras al Khaimah.


Photos: Carlo Borlenghi/Alinghi

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New York Court finds Golden Gate Yacht Club’s behaviour “unsportsmanlike”

Wednesday, September 23rd, 2009

tri-bmw-oracle

In her ruling relating to a hearing on 10 August, New York Supreme Court Justice Shirley Kornreich highlights “…the unsportsmanlike behavior of Golden Gate that has resulted in substantially reducing SNG’s (Société Nautique de Genève) advantage as originally contemplated by the Deed of Gift.”

The 33rd America’s Cup Defender, Société Nautique de Genève, had filed an Order to Show Cause in front of Justice Kornreich who, despite such an unprecedented statement describing the actions of GGYC, considers such “actions are not contrary to law” and is left with no option but to deny the motion.
Justice Kornreich’s order also reiterates that the race shall be sailed under the rules and sailing regulations of the SNG.

SNG and its representing team Alinghi remain committed to a 33rd America’s Cup fought on the water in Ras al-Khaimah in February 2010.

Click here to read the NY Supreme Court court order

Alinghi newsletter.

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Alinghi wins third consecutive multihull Championship on Lake Geneva

Sunday, September 20th, 2009

The Alinghi Décision 35 team, led by Ernesto Bertarelli, won the Challenge Julius Baer on Lake Geneva.

The Alinghi D35 team won the Switzerland-based Challenge Julius Baer multihull series for the third consecutive year.  Alinghi has competed in every D35 championship on Lake Geneva since the 35ft one-design series began in 2004 and this year, as in recent events, the crew of six has been up against some of the most talented multihull sailors in the world throughout the summer-long 12-boat series. The illustrious roll call includes some of Alinghi’s own America’s Cup team members: Loïck Peyron and Alain Gautier, as well as Michel Desjoyeaux, Franck Cammas, Pascal Bidégorry and Karine Fauconnier among others.

Alinghi, helmed by team president Ernesto Bertarelli, won two of the events this year and ranked second in three. Saturday’s performance in Lausanne-Ouchy secured the championship victory for the America’s Cup Defender with Loïck Peyron’s Okalys in second place, just ahead of Alain Gautier on Foncia.

“I am very happy with the result, especially as the level this year has been really high and the fight for the championship has been tight from the start. To finish ahead of Alain Gautier [helmsman on Foncia] and Loïck Peyron [helmsman on Okalys-Corum] is an honour as a helmsman because it’s difficult to find someone as good as them in the world of multihulls,” said Ernesto Bertarelli. “Our result is entirely due to our crew. All sailing boats have to be sailed with everyone doing their job as best they can and we are particularly lucky to have very good people in every single position; it’s a comprehensive victory for all the crew,” he added.

Alinghi has recently completed its sea trials in Genoa, Italy, and will continue to train and test its giant catamaran towards the 33rd America’s Cup in Ras al-Khaimah scheduled to start on 8 February 2010. “Our full focus is on Alinghi 5, we have many things to implement and many things to learn from the boat so there are many hours to put in on the water,” concluded Ernesto Bertarelli.

The team will recommence training in mid-October in the UAE.

Alinghi SUI1 crew

Ernesto Bertarelli, helmsman
Pierre-Yves Jorand, mainsail trimmer and performance
Nils Frei, trimmer
Yves Detrey, bow/mastman and boat captain
Tanguy Cariou, tactician
Coraline Jonet, trimmer

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