Alinghi teams up with F1 team Red Bull Racing for America’s Cup comeback Swiss sailing team Alinghi has confirmed that it is entering the 37th America\u2019s Cup, in a new team partnership as Alinghi Red Bull Racing.
\nTeam founder Ernesto Bertarelli introduced the announcement saying, \u201cEleven years after winning the America\u2019s Cup, we\u2019re back. We never quite left.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bertarelli\u2019s team was the first to win on its Cup debut in 2003, as well as being the first European team ever to win the famous trophy. They then hosted the hugely successful Valencia America\u2019s Cup in 2007, which attracted 11 challengers.
\n\u201cWinning the Cup changes you,\u201d commented Bertarelli. \u201cBut when we stopped racing in the Cup we didn\u2019t stop competing. We always had in mind that we would come back.\u201d
\nAlinghi Red Bull Racing\u2019s F1 connection
\nAlinghi is the second team to confirm an alliance with a Formula 1 team. (There are also rumours circulating that an Italian Luna Rossa challenge is in the wings and will feature the Ferrari motorsport team).
\nUnlike the recently announced pairing of Challenger of Record INEOS Britannia with Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1, which is a partnership between two existing teams, this one is being touted as the formation of one new team. \u201cIt\u2019s completely different from what I have seen elsewhere,\u201d says Bertarelli.
\nRed Bull Racing last weekend saw driver Max Verstappen controversially crowned the 2021 F1 World Champion in a showdown against Mercedes-AMG\u2019s Lewis Hamilton. Christian Horner, Team Principal, said: \u201cWe\u2019re going to take Formula 1 DNA and use it within the boat. We\u2019re going up against Mercedes and INEOS on the water, and maybe Ferrari as well, it\u2019s tremendously exciting.\u201d
\nAdrian Newey is Red Bull Racing\u2019s chief technical officer, and was previously involved in Ben Ainslie\u2019s Land Rover BAR campaign for the 2017 America\u2019s Cup. \u201cHe obviously will be showing interest but we want to keep him a little bit focussed on the car,\u201d said Horner. \u201cBut his design team will be fully involved in this, using all the same tools and approach.\u201d
\nBertarelli confirmed that the team had already visited the Red Bull Racing motorsport base in Milton Keynes, England.<\/p>\n
Before the announcement there had been speculation as to which club Alinghi would represent, as the 100 % nationality rule confirmed in the new America\u2019s Cup Protocol requires all sailors to be passport holders of the nation they represent.
\nThis announcement confirmed that they will represent the Soci\u00e9t\u00e9 Nautique de Gen\u00e8ve, requiring all the team to be Swiss, and the team\u2019s AC75 to be built in Switzerland.
\nSince coming out of the Cup competition, following their defeat to Oracle USA in the 2010 Deed of Gift match, the Alinghi team has since been competing at Swiss lake events, including the T35 circuit.
\nBertarelli points out the team has been sailing in fast and foiling boats, with a young Swiss team. \u201cWe expected the [100% nationality] rule, and we\u2019re ready.\u201d
\nSome of the Swiss crew were introduced on stage and, while they may not (yet) be widely familiar names the include highly skilled foiling sailors like Arnaud Psarofaghis, twice Moth European Champion.
\nAlinghi skipper returns<\/p>\n
Much more familiar was former Alinghi Cup skipper Brad Butterworth. The veteran Kiwi Cup sailor\u2019s role in the team wasn\u2019t confirmed, but it\u2019s clear he will be closely involved, bringing \u2013 as he put it \u2013 \u201ca bit of the old school into the new world.\u201d
\nButterworth is, however, open to one of the most radical changes to the Cup rules since his day: the introduction of \u2018cyclors\u2019 (leg powered grinding), which are again permitted for the AC75s in the next Cup. <\/p>\n
\u201cI think that\u2019s good for Switzerland,\u201d he commented. \u201cI think there are many very good cyclists who could end up powering this boat.\u201d
\nWhen asked where he would like to see the 37th America\u2019s Cup held, given the current uncertainty regarding the America\u2019s Cup venue, Bertarelli said: \u201cWe enjoyed sailing in New Zealand. Obviously having Brad with us as a member of the team means to sail in New Zealand would be great, but we\u2019re ready to sail anywhere the Defender decides: the sooner the better.\u201d
\nThe pharmaceuticals billionaire would not be drawn on the budget behind the new Alinghi Red Bull Racing team, only saying: \u201cWe\u2019ll be well resourced. The most important resource is the human resource in this sort of venture.\u201d<\/p>\n
If you enjoyed this\u2026.<\/p>\n
Yachting World is the world\u2019s leading magazine for bluewater cruisers and offshore sailors. Every month we have inspirational adventures and practical features to help you realise your sailing dreams.<\/p>\n
Build your knowledge with a subscription delivered to your door. See our latest offers and save at least 30% off the cover price.<\/p>\n
The post Alinghi teams up with Red Bull Racing F1 for 37th America\u2019s Cup appeared first on Yachting World.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Alinghi teams up with F1 team Red Bull Racing for America’s Cup comeback Swiss sailing team Alinghi has confirmed that it is entering the 37th America\u2019s Cup, in a new team partnership as Alinghi Red Bull Racing. Team founder Ernesto … <\/p>\n