America's Cup: Alinghi looks forward to Race 1 of 33rd America's Cup

Alinghi looks forward to Race 1 of 33rd America's Cup

by Daphne Morgan Barnicoat

Today marks the third attempt to commence the 33rd America's Cup, a Deed of Gift match between Alinghi 5 as the Defender from the Société Nautique de Genève and USA representing the Golden Gate Yacht Club. The first attempt on Monday was abandoned due to unstable wind conditions associated with a passing cold front, and Wednesday's second attempt was postponed shore side due to waves measuring up to 2m.

As per the Deed of Gift, the 19th century document governing the America's Cup, today's race shall be 20nm to windward and return.

Quote from the race boat
Brad Butterworth, team skipper and tactician

“Hopefully there will be good conditions out there. I think it's lightening off. The big breeze is going away. I think if we go to a good spot we'll get good conditions and we'll be able to have a good race that'll suit both boats.

“It's a bit frustrating for all of us being postponed, I want to get out there and race and see how fast these boats are. Today looks like a good day.”

Defender vs. Challenger

Alinghi 5, Société Nautique de Genève (SUI) vs. BMW Oracle Racing, Golden Gate Yacht Club (USA)
Alinghi, the defender of the America's Cup, will enter the start box on port tack, signified with a blue flag on the stern.

Forecast

NW 20knots decreasing to a light to moderate southerly in the afternoon
8 degrees
Waves of a metre in the morning with a decreasing trend during the day

Crew List

Bow 1: Piet van Nieuwenhuijzen (NED)
Bow 2: Curtis Blewett (CAN)
Bow 3: Jan Dekker (RSA/FRA)
Pitman: Rodney Ardern (NZL)
Trimmer upwind: Simon Daubney (NZL)
Trimmer downwind: Nils Frei (SUI)
Mainsail trimmer: Warwick Fleury (NZL)
Traveller: Pierre-Yves Jorand (SUI)
Helmsman: Ernesto Bertarelli (SUI)
Tactician: Brad Butterworth (NZL)
Strategist: Murray Jones (NZL)
Navigator: Juan Vila (ESP)
Floater: Loïck Peyron (FRA)
Pre-start: Peter Evans (NZL)

Did you know?

As a team Alinghi counts more than 130 members representing 20 nationalities in seven different departments (sailing, design, shore, weather, media, marketing, administration).

The race area covers 450 square miles, or 1165 square kilometres.

It took 100,000 man hours to construct Alinghi 5.

The 1100sqm Code 0 gennaker is one of the three largest in the world.
The mast is 17 storeys tall and there are 534m of carbon-fibre standing rigging (shrouds, forestays and backstays).

On this day in America's Cup history

1970 – Challenger Gretel II is launched in Sydney, Australia, to be the representative of the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron, the third and last challenge of Australian media magnate Sir Frank Packer. Gretel II introduced several innovations including dual wheels to give the helmsman a better view and to have his weight better positioned to windward, as well as collapsible spreaders to enable the genoa to be sheeted closer to the mast, enhancing her ability to sail to windward. Gretel II was the first challenger to be selected in a Challenger Selection Series defeating Baron Bich's France to proceed to the match. Gretel II, named after Packer's wife (as well as his first challenger Gretel in 1962) was defeated by Intrepid 4-0. It was Intrepid's second America's Cup win, becoming only the second yacht to do so in the history of the Cup. Gretel II was restored in 2009 in New Zealand and is now racing once again on Sydney Harbour.

2009 – Alinghi defeats BMW Oracle Racing in the Challenger Final of the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series, 2-0, the last time Alinghi and BMW Oracle met in a match race before the 33rd America's Cup.

Alinghi