Alinghi

Alinghi is the trade union Suisse taking part in the Coupe of America. It gained the two last editions in 2003 with Auckland and 2007 with Valence (as a Defender). Its owner is the businessman Ernesto Bertarelli.

History

Large impassioned of veil, Ernesto Bertarelli wishes to gain the Cut of America. In 2000, it moves in New Zealand to attend the triumph of TEAM New Zealand on the Italians of Luna Rossa by 5-0. It is very impressed by the quality of the New Zealand sailors and especially by their cox Russell Coutts. Shortly after the victory of TEAM New Zealand, of the tensions appear within the team and several members decide to leave the project. Russel Coutts approaches Bertarelli and this last engages it, like all the Cellule postpones TNZ, that one even which had triumphed at the time of the two preceding editions.

The personal boats of Ernesto Bertarelli also bear the name of Alinghi . It was accustomed to employing this term with his sister when they were children.

Cross of America 2003

Boats

Drawn by the Dutch architect Rolf Vrolijk, the boats were conceived in close cooperation with the Federal Polytechnic school of Lausanne (FPSL). They were manufactured by the company Décision SA based with Corsier-sur-Vevey, on the edges of the Lac Léman. SUI-64 and SUI-75 were the two boats of the marketing year 2003. They showed qualities amongst other things in the increase with the wind, but especially a reliability which often was lacking with their direct competitors. The boat is designed in two longitudinal parts, stuck together before until the back, giving an incredible rigidity to the structure. Today the two boats underwent the modifications necessary in order to adapt them to new gauge 5.0 of Class America. These two boats will be replaced by new boats SUI-91 and SUI-100 which will take part in next Coupe in 2007.

The team

Bertarelli engaged the skipper Russell Coutts which gained the two preceding editions in 1995 and 2000 with the trade union of the New Zealand. Coutts made come with him several New Zealand navigators in the Swiss crew, which started a sharp patriotic campaign in New Zealand during the competition.

Competition

The trade union did not have too much problem to gain the Coupe Louis Vuitton. He was thus opposed to holding of the title, the TEAM New Zealand, in final of the Cut of America. The Swiss challenge gains the competition by 5 to 0.

Reactions after the victory

In Switzerland, the victory of Alinghi created a stronger passion for the veil. The Swiss challenge also received the price of the team of the year 2003 in Switzerland.

Cross of America 2007

As holding of the title, Alinghi must determine the place of the next competition. Switzerland not having an direct access with the sea, the town of Valence was indicated to accommodate the edition 2007. The other candidates cities were Marseilles, Palma de Majorque, Lisbon and Naples.

In July 2004, and following several divergences of opinions with the owner Ernesto Bertarelli, the skipper Russell Coutts was laid off.

Collaboration with FPSL was maintained for the edition 2007. Two boats SUI91 and SUI100 were manufactured by the company Décision SA based with Corsier-sur-Vevey, on the edges of the Lac Léman, then transported by truck since the Suisse until Valence.

SUI64, victorious boat of America' S Cup 2003, is always exposed to the public on the Alinghi basis in Valence. As for SUI75, after being exposed to America' S Cup Park de Valence, it was sold in May 2007 with the British challenge TeamOrigin.

|- | SUI 100 | Alinghi | NZL 92 | Emirates TEAM New Zealand |
|

00: 00 | | 00: 07 | | 00: 14 | | 00: 12 | | 00: 01 |- |}

Alinghi gains its 5th only one second regatta and carries the 32^ème America' S Cup. The Suisse becomes the 3^ème country of the history successfully has to have gained then defended the cut, after the the United States and the New Zealand.

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