Alinghi: Press Release
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Alinghi Multi-Hull Training Program for 2009 Geneva, April 30, 2009 Alinghi, 33rd America's Cup Defender, has started its 2009-2010 multi-hull campaign in Switzerland launching the two Decision 35 catamarans that will be used as training platforms towards a multi-hull America's Cup in May 2010. The sailing team will be dedicated to multi-hull training, racing the Challenge Julius Baer on Lake Geneva for the rest of the season and withdrawing from other mono-hull commitments. In addition to Ernesto Bertarelli's original SUI1, the team has chartered a second Decision 35 (SUI6) for the season and the two grand prix multi-hulls will race the eight events that span the summer, starting on 8 May with the Grand Prix Corum. Ed Baird will helm Alinghi SUI6 with Brad Butterworth as tactician while Ernesto Bertarelli, Alinghi president, will helm Alinghi SUI1. “Ernesto and his team have been strong in this class for years, we look forward to learning from and with them throughout the season,” said Baird. “We realize we have a lot to learn, and there will be a number of great crews to race against, so we're excited to have the opportunity to get back on the water in a competitive environment.” The Alinghi multi-hulls will face a strong 10-boat fleet that includes some of the best offshore multi-hull sailors in the world, and while an Alinghi team has won the last two championships on the Lake, the group is candid in its expectations: “We are here to try to win, just as we did last year, but this season is going to be tough: the circuit has two new boats (Veltigroup and Banque Populaire) manned by highly professional multi-hull sailors with lots of experience, so the starts of the races will be more challenging. We will definitely be trying to keep the trophy in our hands though!” said Yves Detrey, Alinghi bow/mastman.
The first event, the
Grand Prix Corum is from 8-10 May at the Société Nautique de Genève, so
the Alinghi teams will start training from next Monday, the D-35's
represent a more sophisticated racing multi-hull than we have experienced
before, and we need all the training opportunities we can get as we
prepare for an America's Cup in multi-hulls, Ed Baird concluded. Crew lists
Alinghi SUI1
Alinghi SUI6
D35 racing program Dates - Events - Organizer 8-10 May 2009 Grand Prix Corum SNG 23-24 May 2009 Grand Prix Romandie.com - Act I SNR 6 June 2009 Genève-Rolle-Genève YCG 13 June 2009 Bol d'Or Mirabaud SNG 27-28 June 2009 Grand Prix Romandie.com - Act II CNV 22-23 August 2009 Open de Nyon SNR 5-6 September 2009 HP Cup La Reserve YLSNG
18-20
September 2009
Grand Prix Beau-Rivage Palace
CVV D35 teams for the Challenge Julius Baer 2009
SUI1 Alinghi SUI1 Additional information on the Decision 35 class The D35 catamaran is a strict one design concept constructed with materials produced by cutting edge technology its improved aerodynamics result in a lighter and faster craft. With the distinctive feature of three hulls the outer two acting as floats and the central hull acting as a strengthening structure this catamaran is well suited to racing. The D35 Class was founded in 2004 by Swiss sailors for friendly competition on Swiss lakes.
Design team
Length overall LOA |
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